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    The first name Barney

    A boy’s name from English meaning “growing with barley”, “island”.

    Pronounced /ˈbɑɹni/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Barney means “growing with barley”, “island” in English.

    From either the Old English personal name Bera (genitive singular Beran) or from Old English beren (“growing with barley”) + īeġ (“island”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 179 boys were named Barney, making it the 257th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 195 births (#246).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    2,551
    babies named Barney, 1996–2025
    #257
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Barney with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Barney at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 5 boys born in the United States were named Barney, the 12,274th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1919, when 304 were.

    0200400 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    16,181
    babies named Barney since 1880
    #12,274
    rank in 2025
    1919
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Barney

    19 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Barney Frank
      American politician (1940–2026)
    • Barney Kessel
      American jazz guitarist (1923–2004)
    • Barney Ewell
      Athletics competitor (1918-1996)
    • Barney Martin
      American actor (1923–2005)
    • Barney Bigard
      American jazz clarinetist, jazz musician (1906-1980)
    • Barney Oldfield
      American racing driver (1878-1946)
    • Barney Phillips
      American actor (1913-1982)
    • Barney Williams
      Canadian rower, born 1977
    • Barney Clark
      British actor, born 1993
    • J. Barney Sherry
      American actor (1874-1944)
    • Barney Barnato
      British businessman (1851–1897)
    • Barney Wilen
      French saxophonist (1937-1996)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Barney mean?
    Barney means “growing with barley”, “island” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Barney?
    From either the Old English personal name Bera (genitive singular Beran) or from Old English beren (“growing with barley”) + īeġ (“island”).
    How popular is the name Barney?
    In 2025, 179 boys born in England and Wales were named Barney, ranking 257th. Its peak was 2021, with 195 births.
    Is Barney a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 16,181 US babies named Barney since 1880 were boys.
    When was Barney most popular?
    1919 in the United States, when 304 babies were named Barney, its highest rank at 319th.
    How do you pronounce Barney?
    Barney is /ˈbɑɹni/, 2 syllables.
    Is Barney also a surname?
    Yes. Barney is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.