Vernus
Of Latin origin, a name meaning "fresh" or "springlike".
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Vernus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vernus today is around 84 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vernus births was 1925 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vernus. 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 Vernus is about 84 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Vernus' were born before 1952.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Vernus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1925
10 babies that year
Average age
84
years old
1945 SSA rank
#3,758
Tracked since 1923
Popularity
Vernus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vernus from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 15 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Vernus remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vernus 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 Vernus 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 Vernus
The name Vernus is derived from the Latin word "vernus," meaning "of the spring" or "vernal." It has its origins in ancient Roman culture, where it was likely used as a surname or cognomen to refer to someone born or associated with the spring season.
In ancient Roman times, the name Vernus may have been given to children born during the vernal equinox or the springtime months. It could also have been used as a symbolic or descriptive name for individuals with a youthful or vibrant personality, much like the rejuvenating energy of spring.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vernus can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a Roman soldier named Vernus Fortunatus in his work "Annals." This soldier lived during the 1st century AD and participated in the suppression of a rebellion in Gaul.
Another notable bearer of the name Vernus was a Roman poet and grammarian who lived in the 4th century AD. Known as Vernus Rufius, he authored a collection of poems and a treatise on Latin grammar, which have unfortunately been lost to time.
In the Middle Ages, the name Vernus seems to have fallen out of widespread use, but it resurfaced during the Renaissance period. One notable figure from this era was Vernus Andronicus, a Croatian scholar and writer born in the late 15th century. He is credited with producing the first printed book in the Croatian language, a collection of religious poems titled "Lekcionar Bernardina Splićanina."
During the 17th century, Vernus Hasius was a Dutch theologian and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of natural law and the theory of social contract. His works influenced later thinkers like John Locke and Samuel von Pufendorf.
In the 19th century, Vernus Fritzsche was a German chemist and professor at the University of Rostock. He is known for his research on organic compounds and his contributions to the development of analytical techniques in chemistry.
While the name Vernus has been relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, from military service and literature to philosophy and science. Its connection to the concept of spring and rejuvenation has likely contributed to its enduring appeal as a unique and evocative name choice.
People
Vernus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vernus 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
Vernus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vernus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vernus 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 Vernus a common name?
We classify Vernus 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, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vernus most popular?
The single biggest year for Vernus was 1925, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vernus is about 84 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 Vernus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Vernus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vernus 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 Vernus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Vernus 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 Vernus 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 Vernus?
You can see how many people share the name Vernus on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.