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Boy name · Middle English

Barrett

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: from a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive

Barrett 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
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2020s, at 1,127 per million.
Babies named Barrett per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 2020s
1880s10 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s4 per million
1910s12 per million
1920s14 per million
1930s20 per million
1940s25 per million
1950s28 per million
1960s46 per million
1970s85 per million
1980s117 per million
1990s83 per million
2000s137 per million
2010s614 per million
2020s1,127 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
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

  • BeckettFrom a surname, possibly from beak or stream (Middle English, boy)
  • HollisHolly trees (Middle English, boy)
  • NashFrom a surname meaning at the ash tree (Middle English, boy)
  • TuckerFuller of cloth (Middle English, boy)

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.