Varner
An Old High German name meaning "defender" or "protector".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Varner. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Varner today is around 69 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Varner births was 1914 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Varner. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Varner is about 69 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Varners were born before 1967.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Varner. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1914
8 babies that year
Average age
69
years old
1965 SSA rank
#4,405
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Varner: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Varner from the 1910s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 32 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Varner by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Varner during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Varners live
Origin
Meaning and history of Varner
The given name Varner has its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically from the Old High German words "warin" and "heri," which translate to "guard" and "army," respectively. This combination suggests that the name likely referred to a guardsman or soldier in the early medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Varner can be found in the 9th century Frankish chronicles, where it was mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought alongside Charlemagne's army during the Saxon Wars. The name also appears in various Germanic folklore and legends from the same era, often associated with bravery and valor on the battlefield.
In the 11th century, a notable figure named Varner von Regensburg was a prominent scholar and theologian in the Holy Roman Empire. His writings on religious doctrine and philosophy were widely circulated and studied throughout medieval Europe. Another historical figure, Varner of Burgundy, was a respected military commander who played a pivotal role in the Crusades during the 12th century.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Varnar, Varnher, and Warnher. In the 13th century, a Flemish nobleman named Varner van Gent was a prominent figure in the court of the Count of Flanders and was known for his patronage of the arts and literature.
During the Renaissance period, Varner Meister was a renowned German artist and engraver who contributed to the development of the printmaking technique known as etching. His detailed and intricate works were highly sought after by collectors and patrons throughout Europe in the 16th century.
As the name continued to evolve and spread across different cultures and regions, it took on various meanings and associations. However, its origins as a Germanic name related to guardianship and military service remained a common thread throughout its history.
People
Varner + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Varner as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Varner: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Varner?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Varner going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Varner a common name?
We classify Varner as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 43 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Varner most popular?
The single biggest year for Varner was 1914, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Varner is about 69 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Varner in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Varner a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Varner in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Varner still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Varner in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Varner can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Varner?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.