Barrett is an English surname and given name of Irish origin, derived from the Norman French word "barret," which means "brit." The Normans were a group of people who invaded England in the 11th century, bringing with them their language and culture.
The name Barrett was originally used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was from Brittany, a region in France. Over time, however, it became an established surname among families of Irish descent.
There are several notable figures throughout history who bear the name Barrett. One such figure is James R. Barrett, an American historian and labor activist who specialized in the study of immigration and ethnicity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In addition to its use as a surname, Barrett has also been used as a given name for boys and girls since the mid-20th century. In recent years, it has gained popularity as a unisex name, with some parents choosing it because of its unique sound and Irish origins.
The name Barrett has been consistently popular over the years in the United States, with a significant increase in popularity since the late 1990s. Between 1886 and 1947, there were fewer than 35 births per year with the name Barrett. However, starting from 1954, the number of annual births with this name began to rise significantly, reaching 65 births that year.
The popularity of the name Barrett continued to grow throughout the 1960s and 1970s, peaking at 296 births in 1979. After a brief decline in the early 1980s, the name regained its popularity, reaching an all-time high of 2,009 births in 2020.
Overall, since 1886 to 2023, there have been a total of 29,290 births with the name Barrett in the United States. This shows that while it may not have always been one of the most popular names, Barrett has nonetheless been a well-liked choice among American parents for over a century.