Barrett

“Quarrelsome, troublesome; deceptive” — Old English; Old French (Norman) origin

Boy's name · #171 in the US (2025) · Trending

Barrett first appeared in 1886, vanished from the records entirely for 17 years, and since returning in 1907 has climbed back to #171. About 33,000 boys have carried it in all. It is also an American family name — about 100,000 people carry it as a surname, according to US census data.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,500 boys in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 47 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Barretts

Barrett Foa — American actor
Barrett Strong — American singer and songwriter (1941–2023)
Barrett Deems — American musician (1914–1998)
Barrett Martin — American drummer
Barrett Brown — American journalist, essayist and satirist

In stories & tradition

Barrett Rude Senior — The Fortress of Solitude

What Barretts become

Among 67 notable people named Barrett:

Sports figures appear 1.73× more often than among typical names — e.g. Barrett Hayton, Canadian ice hockey player.

Similar names: Tate · Baker · Graham · Rhett · Bennett · Beckham

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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