Origin, Meaning, And History Of Barrett
The masculine name Barrett has diverse roots. Originally an Irish surname, Barrett comes from the Gaelic name Bairéid. In English and Irish, the name is derived from the Old French term ‘barat,’ which is mostly believed to be a nickname for a quarrelsome person. In Middle English, the name refers to ‘trouble’ or ‘distress,’ or ‘deception’ and ‘fraud.’ In Old English, it also refers to a ‘nobleman.’ Alternatively, this Celtic name also means ‘bear strength’ or ‘strong as a bear.’ In some cultures, the name is an occupational name meaning ‘trader.’
Barrett is also known to mean ‘fair-haired’ in some languages. This name was popular in England during the Medieval period and has been used as a surname for centuries. The use of the surname as a first name is of recent occurrence, and you may not find many people bearing the first name Barrett. Barnett, Barret, Barr, Barnet, Barnete, Barnette, and Baronette are some variants of this name.
The surname Barrett has a long history. It was common in the English counties of Nottinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Yorkshire, and Essex. However, these families relocated to Ireland after being invited by the King and were granted lands in County Cork and County Mayo. Barret, Barett, Baret, Barratt, Barrat, Barat, and Baratt are some of the alternative spellings of the surname Barrett.
In the world of fiction, the name Barrett features in games, books, and movies. In the popular Japanese video game series, Final Fantasy,Barret Wallaceis a player character, the cell leader of the eco-terrorist group Avalanche. The horror series, American Gothic features a character namedBarrett Stokes. In the British romance series, Delectably British,Barrett Ascottis an obnoxious but attractive male character. In the popular comedy-fantasy series, Ghostbusters, the musician characterDana Barrettis the first customer of Ghostbusters.
How To Pronounce Barrett?
Famous People With The Name Barrett
- Barrett Lancaster BrownAmerican journalist, founder of activist group Project PM
- Barrett James RuudFormer American footballer, played in the National Football League
- Marques Barrett HoustonAmerican music artist, former member of the group R&B group ‘Immature/IMx’
- William Emery BarrettAmerican politician, former member of the United States House of Representatives
- Carlton “Carly” BarrettJamaican music artist, known for being the drummer of Bob Marley & The Wailers
Barrett On The Popularity Chart
As seen in the graphs below, the name has had a bumpy ride in popularity marked by sudden spikes and sharp declines. Let’s dig deeper to understand the trend this name has been following over the last three decades.
Popularity Over Time
Barrett was a rare name as it had only five names per million babies registered in 1980. It reached a new height in 2018 when the number of names registered rose to 36. In 2021, 35 names per million babies were registered in the US.
来源:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
With its share of ups and downs, the name has very gradually improved its performance in the rankings chart. In 2021, its ranking improved to rank 4,074 from 10,536 in 1980.
来源:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Barrett
If Barrett sounds appealing to you, consider the names below with a similar sound but different meanings.
Popular Sibling Names For Barrett
Other Popular Names Beginning With B
Names With Similar Meaning As Barrett
Like the meaning of Barrett? Here are some more options with similar meanings.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
barrett
In Sign Language
barrett
In Braille Alphabet
barrett
In Morse Code
barrett
Name Numerology For Barrett
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Barrett?
The name Barrett means ‘strength of a bear.’
2. What is the origin of the name Barrett?
Barrett has Irish and English origins.
3. How to pronounce the name Barrett?
Barrett is pronounced as bar-rett.
4. Is Barrett a rare name?
The popularity chart by the Social Security Administration (SSA) depicts that although Barrett remained among the top 1000 names in the US from 1954, it has been gaining significant popularity for a few years. In 2022, 1,777 babies were given this name in the US (1).
5. What are some middle names that go well with Barrett?
Barrett means ‘nobleman’ or ‘bear’s strength.’ If you are looking for middle names for this name, you may consider names that share meanings related to strength and power. Some remarkable examples includeEthan(meaning ‘firm, strong’),William(meaning ‘strong-willed,’ ‘protection’),Denzel(meaning ‘high stronghold’), Sewell (meaning ‘sea strong’), andConard(meaning ‘brave counsel’).
References:
- Popularity of the name Barrett.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
