Vernard
A male name derived from the French name Vernaud, meaning "bearing shield."
Name Census estimates that about 1,095 living Americans carry the first name Vernard. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vernard today is around 59 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vernard births was 1922 (49 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vernard. 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.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 313,018 Americans
Peak year
1922
49 babies that year
Average age
59
years old
2009 SSA rank
#14,383
Tracked since 1900
Popularity
Vernard: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vernard from the 1900s through to the 2000s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 356 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
Vernard 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 Vernard during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Vernards live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. Virginia, Michigan, South Carolina recorded the most babies named Vernard, while New York, Minnesota, North Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Vernard
The name Vernard originates from the Old French vernacul, which means "native" or "local." It is derived from the Latin vernaculus, meaning "homebred" or "domestic." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages in France, around the 12th or 13th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vernard can be found in a historical text from the late 13th century, which mentions a nobleman named Vernard de Montfort. This suggests that the name was in use among the French nobility during that time period.
In the 14th century, a renowned French scholar and philosopher, Vernard de Villedieu, gained recognition for his works on logic and metaphysics. He was born in 1305 and passed away in 1371, leaving a lasting impact on medieval scholasticism.
During the Renaissance, a notable figure named Vernard Palissy (1510-1590) made significant contributions to the field of ceramics. He is celebrated for his innovative techniques and pioneering work in the development of glazed pottery.
In the 17th century, a French explorer and adventurer, Vernard La Salle (1643-1687), gained fame for his expeditions and explorations in North America. He is credited with exploring the Great Lakes region and claiming the vast territory of Louisiana for France.
Another prominent historical figure bearing the name Vernard was Vernard Descartes (1596-1650), a renowned French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He is widely regarded as one of the foundational figures of modern philosophy and is best known for his famous quote, "I think, therefore I am."
Throughout the centuries, the name Vernard has maintained a presence, although it has never been among the most popular names. It has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, explorers, and philosophers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this distinctive moniker.
People
Vernard + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vernard 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
Vernard: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vernard?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,095 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vernard 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 313,018 US residents.
Is Vernard a common name?
We classify Vernard as "Rare". It ranks above 90.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,066 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vernard most popular?
The single biggest year for Vernard was 1922, when 49 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vernard is about 59 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Vernard a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vernard 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.
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.