Purnell: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	6	51	57	6	–	#2,130
1920s	–	83	83	8	+46%	#2,477
1930s	–	73	73	7	-12%	#2,260
1940s	–	96	96	10	+32%	#1,668
1950s	–	118	118	12	+23%	#2,150
1960s	–	126	126	13	+7%	#1,887
1970s	–	95	95	10	-25%	#2,657
1980s	–	60	60	6	-37%	#4,460
1990s	–	43	43	4	-28%	#5,285
2000s	–	11	11	1	-74%	#10,532
2010s	–	6	6	1	-45%	#11,833
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,130

1920s

–

+46%

#2,477

1930s

–

-12%

#2,260

1940s

–

+32%

#1,668

1950s

–

118

+23%

#2,150

1960s

–

126

+7%

#1,887

1970s

–

-25%

#2,657

1980s

–

-37%

#4,460

1990s

–

-28%

#5,285

2000s

–

-74%

#10,532

2010s

–

-45%

#11,833

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Purnell

Purnell is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1913, 768 American babies have been named Purnell. Its peak came in 1919, when 21 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Purnell stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Purnell?

The median living Purnell is about 58 years old; half are between 45 and 69. An estimated 500 people named Purnell are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Purnell year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	6	#11,833
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	5	#12,750
2003	–	–	6	#10,532
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	8	#6,831
1990	–	–	10	#5,285
1985	–	–	5	#7,320
1980	–	–	6	#6,050
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	13	#2,708
1965	–	–	17	#1,976
1960	–	–	8	#3,270
1955	–	–	11	#2,525
1950	–	–	8	#2,964
1945	–	–	7	#2,934
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	9	#2,674
1930	–	–	10	#2,746
1925	–	–	10	#2,893
1920	–	–	10	#2,921
1915	–	–	11	#2,420
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Purnell, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Purnell?

The median living Purnell is about 58 years old. Half of all living Purnells are between 45 and 69 years old.

How many people named Purnell are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Purnell are alive in the United States, based on 768 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Purnell in 2025?

Purnell did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Purnell?

768 babies have been named Purnell in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Purnell most popular?

Purnell peaked in 1919, when 21 newborns received the name.

Is Purnell a boy or girl name?

Purnell is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Purnell rising or falling?

Purnell has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Purnell

Purnell popularity over time

The story of Purnell

How old are people named Purnell?

Purnell year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Purnell