Varnum
A variant spelling of the Old English name Fearnham.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Varnum. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Varnum today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Varnum births was 1949 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Varnum. 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 Varnum is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Varnums were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Varnum. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1949
5 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1949 SSA rank
#4,173
Tracked since 1949
Popularity
Varnum: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Varnum 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 Varnum during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Varnum
The name Varnum has its origins in ancient Rome, derived from the Latin word "varna," which means "protection" or "safeguard." It was a common name among the Roman aristocracy during the early centuries of the Roman Empire, often given to sons as a symbol of strength and security.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Varnum can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a prominent Roman general named Varnum Cornelius, who lived in the 3rd century BC. Cornelius was known for his military exploits and his unwavering loyalty to the Roman Republic.
The name Varnum also appears in several ancient Christian texts, including the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible. It is believed that the name was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of divine protection and guidance.
In the Middle Ages, the name Varnum gained popularity among the nobility in various European regions, particularly in France and England. One notable figure from this era was Varnum de Montfort, a French knight who fought in the Crusades during the 13th century.
As the centuries passed, the name Varnum continued to be used across Europe, though its popularity waxed and waned in different regions. In England, for instance, the name gained renewed prominence during the 17th century, with several notable individuals bearing the name.
One such individual was Varnum Burrows (1591-1655), an English author and philosopher who is best known for his works on natural philosophy and metaphysics. Another notable figure was Varnum Stokes (1618-1692), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Old Bailey courthouse.
In the Americas, the name Varnum gained prominence during the colonial era, particularly in New England. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Joseph Bradley Varnum (1750-1821), a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Varnum played a crucial role in several major battles, including the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Monmouth.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Varnum continued to be used, though its popularity declined somewhat. However, several notable individuals bore the name during this period, including Varnum Lansing Collins (1828-1919), a prominent American lawyer and politician who served as the Governor of Rhode Island from 1865 to 1866.
Overall, the name Varnum has a rich and diverse history, spanning centuries and continents. While its popularity may have ebbed and flowed over time, it has remained a distinctive and meaningful name, carrying with it a sense of strength, protection, and endurance.
People
Varnum + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Varnum 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
Varnum: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Varnum?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Varnum 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Varnum a common name?
We classify Varnum as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Varnum most popular?
The single biggest year for Varnum was 1949, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Varnum is about 83 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 Varnum in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Varnum a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Varnum 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 Varnum still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Varnum 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 Varnum 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 called Varnum?
You can see how many people share the name Varnum on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.