Vernalee
Feminine name referring to the vernal spring season.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Vernalee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Vernalee today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vernalee births was 1928 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vernalee. 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 Vernalee is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Vernalees were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Vernalee. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1928
9 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1946 SSA rank
#4,935
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Vernalee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vernalee from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 21 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vernalee 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 Vernalee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Vernalee
The name Vernalee has its roots in the English language and is believed to have originated in the late 19th century. It is a combination of the English words "verna," meaning spring, and "lee," a common English suffix used in names to signify a meadow or clearing.
The earliest recorded use of the name Vernalee dates back to the late 1800s in the United States, particularly in the southern states. It was likely a name given to children born during the spring season, reflecting the natural beauty and renewal associated with that time of year.
While the name Vernalee does not appear to have been mentioned in any ancient texts or religious scriptures, it was not entirely uncommon during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One notable example of a person bearing this name was Vernalee Cooper (1890-1975), an American educator and school administrator who served as the principal of several schools in Texas.
Another individual with the name Vernalee was Vernalee Randolph (1908-1992), an American artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits. Her works were exhibited in various galleries and museums across the United States during her lifetime.
In the realm of literature, Vernalee Melgert (1921-2003) was a notable American author and poet. She published several collections of poetry and was recognized for her contributions to the literary scene in the mid-20th century.
Another noteworthy figure was Vernalee Groat (1926-2011), an American philanthropist and community leader. She was actively involved in various charitable organizations and initiatives, particularly those focused on education and youth development.
Lastly, Vernalee Benton (1932-2018) was an American singer and musician who gained recognition for her contributions to the blues and gospel genres. She performed extensively throughout her career and was celebrated for her powerful vocals and stage presence.
While these are just a few examples, the name Vernalee has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on history in their own unique way.
People
Vernalee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vernalee 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
Vernalee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vernalee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vernalee 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 Vernalee a common name?
We classify Vernalee 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, 40 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vernalee most popular?
The single biggest year for Vernalee was 1928, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vernalee is about 81 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 Vernalee in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Vernalee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vernalee in the SSA data are female. 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 Vernalee still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Vernalee 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 Vernalee 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 have Vernalee as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.