Boy name · Middle English
Barrett
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptiveBarrett is a boy's name that is of Middle English origin: from a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive. It is used in English.
- Meaning
- From a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive
- Origin
- Middle English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #171 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Barrett
As a boy's name, Barrett is of Middle English origin: from a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive. It is used in English.
Barrett is also a surname: the 325th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 96,872 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
How popular is Barrett?
- US rank in 2025
- #171
- 2,138 babies, 1,252 per million boys
- Best rank
- #171 in 2025
- 2,138 babies that year
- Babies since 1886
- At least 33,425
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 10 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 4 per million |
| 1910s | 12 per million |
| 1920s | 14 per million |
| 1930s | 20 per million |
| 1940s | 25 per million |
| 1950s | 28 per million |
| 1960s | 46 per million |
| 1970s | 85 per million |
| 1980s | 117 per million |
| 1990s | 83 per million |
| 2000s | 137 per million |
| 2010s | 614 per million |
| 2020s | 1,127 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #261 | #234 | #213 | #209 | #193 | #193 | #208 | #206 | #187 | #171 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- LilianaLatinate form of Lillian, probably from Elizabeth or Lily (English, girl)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- AthenaMeaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom (Greek, girl)
- BruceProbably from Brix in Normandy (French, boy)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- LeahProbably weary, grieved (Hebrew, girl)
- LukaForm of Lucas, probably from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- MariaGreek and Latin form of Miriam, of uncertain meaning (Hebrew, girl)
Middle names for Barrett
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
- ClarkCleric, scribe (Old English, boy)
- DeanFrom a surname meaning valley (Old English, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- HenryHome ruler (Germanic, boy)
- LeviJoined, attached (Hebrew, boy)
- MicahWho is like Yahweh? (Hebrew, boy)
- RiverFlowing river (English, unisex)
- RowanLittle red one (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
More boy names from Middle English
Barrett: common questions
What does the name Barrett mean?
Barrett is of Middle English origin: from a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Barrett a boy or girl name?
Barrett is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 40 girls and 2,138 boys in the US were named Barrett, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Barrett come from?
Barrett is of Middle English origin: from a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive. Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Barrett?
Barrett ranked #171 in the US in 2025, with 2,138 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Barrett?
Middle names that flow well with Barrett include Clark, Dean, Ethan, Henry and Levi. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.

