Barren
A boys’ name with no widely documented etymology — two syllables, given to 6 babies a year in the US.
Barren by the numbers
Barren was given to 6 American babies in 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
Its American peak was 8 babies in 1963, making it a 1960s name.
What we can tell you about Barren
Not every name has a meaning to trace. Plenty are coined rather than inherited — invented outright, blended from two names, or respelled from an older one — and where we cannot find an etymology we can stand behind, we would rather say so than make one up. What follows comes from the birth records themselves.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Barren. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Barronyoung warrior; baron; nobleman135 in the US (2017)
- Barrettrouble or strife; a form of Barrett33 in the US (2017)
- Barrettstrength of a bear1,633 in the US (2017)
- Barneyson of comfort; a form of Barnaby179 in England and Wales (2025)
- Baronnoble warrior or man of rank151 in the US (2017)
- Barryfair-haired, spear; from Barra134 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Barren
Names that are said the same way as Barren, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Names about as common as Barren
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