Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1920

Vern

Meaning A diminutive of the male given name Vernon Gender Boy · 4% girls Rank 2025 #10,607

A diminutive of the male given name Vernon.

Rank 2025
#10,607
among boys · ↑1,646 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
7
named Vern
How common
1 in 244,011
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1920
282 babies
All-time total
11,982
#1,108 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Vern popularity over time

11,982 babies have been named Vern since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 – 244 244 24 – #317
1890s 18 350 368 37 +51% #273
1900s 37 355 392 39 +7% #317
1910s 110 1,538 1,648 165 +320% #368
1920s 120 2,357 2,477 248 +50% #360
1930s 80 1,683 1,763 176 -29% #381
1940s 37 1,591 1,628 163 -8% #452
1950s 50 1,611 1,661 166 +2% #503
1960s 27 984 1,011 101 -39% #644
1970s 6 368 374 37 -63% #1,015
1980s – 214 214 21 -43% #1,902
1990s – 107 107 11 -50% #3,595
2000s – 45 45 5 -58% #7,377
2010s – 15 15 2 -67% #9,612
2020s (to 2025) – 35 35 6 +289% #9,690

The story of Vern

Vern is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #10,607 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 11,982 American babies have been named Vern. Its peak came in 1920, when 282 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Vern stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Vern?

The median living Vern is about 69 years old; half are between 60 and 77. An estimated 4,000 people named Vern are alive in the United States today.

median 69 020406080100

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

Vern 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 – – 7 #10,607
2024 – – 6 #12,253
2023 – – 8 #9,690
2022 – – 8 #9,764
2021 – – 6 #12,051
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – 7 #10,666
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – 8 #9,612
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – 8 #9,738
2006 – – – –
2005 – – 7 #10,096
2004 – – – –
2003 – – 6 #10,826
2002 – – 9 #7,606
2001 – – 6 #10,488
2000 – – 9 #7,377
1995 – – 7 #7,760
1990 – – 17 #3,595
1985 – – 22 #2,421
1980 – – 19 #2,612
1975 – – 37 #1,475
1970 6 #7,964 65 #1,015
1965 6 #6,511 95 #762
1960 5 #7,279 133 #682
1955 5 #6,689 166 #574
1950 8 #4,298 140 #574
1945 7 #4,007 147 #495
1940 6 #4,324 165 #452
1935 13 #2,430 153 #459
1930 8 #3,647 222 #381
1925 10 #3,348 241 #387
1920 8 #3,934 274 #360
1915 13 #2,378 212 #368
1910 6 #2,385 34 #479
1905 6 #1,915 33 #364
1900 7 #1,716 36 #374
1895 – – 43 #273
1890 5 #1,521 32 #311
1885 – – 29 #317
1880 – – 19 #400

Famous people named Vern

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Vern Schuppan Vern Schuppan Australian racing driver (born 1943) Contemporary
  2. 2 Vern Mikkelsen Vern Mikkelsen American basketball player (1928–2013) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Vern?

The median living Vern is about 69 years old. Half of all living Verns are between 60 and 77 years old.

How many people named Vern are alive today?

An estimated 4,000 people named Vern are alive in the United States, based on 11,982 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Vern mean?

A diminutive of the male given name Vernon.

How popular is the name Vern in 2025?

Vern ranked #10,607 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Vern?

11,982 babies have been named Vern in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Vern most popular?

Vern peaked in 1920, when 282 newborns received the name.

Is Vern a boy or girl name?

Vern is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 96% of babies with the name.

Is the name Vern rising or falling?

Vern is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Vern?

Well-known people named Vern include Vern Schuppan (racing driver), Vern Mikkelsen (basketball player).

Names like Vern

Names that sound and feel close to Vern: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Vern with similar names → More names starting with V →