How to say it
BAR · rett
ˈbɛr.ət
Masculine
Barrett
Bear-strength, or 'quarrel'
What it means
English surname from one of two roots: the Germanic personal name Berhart ('bear-strong') or the Old French baret ('quarrel, dispute'). Elizabeth Barrett Browning the Victorian poet is the literary anchor.
Barrett is an English surname from two competing roots. The dominant reading derives it from the Germanic personal name Berhart, a compound of bero ('bear') and hart ('strong, brave'), meaning 'bear-strong.' The alternate reading comes from the Old French baret ('quarrel, dispute'), originally a nickname for an argumentative person. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861), the Victorian poet of Sonnets from the Portuguese ('How do I love thee? Let me count the ways'), is the deepest literary anchor through the surname. As a first name Barrett is American and modern: rare before 2000, then climbing. It entered the US top 500 in 2014. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd's founding singer) gives the rock reference. Common short: Bear or Barre.
How to spell Barrett
The standard spelling is Barrett. Common variants include Barret, Barrat, but Barrett is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #171 in 2025, currently #171 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is the deepest cultural anchor via the surname; Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd gives the rock reference; the first-name use is mostly post-2000.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning English Victorian poet, 1806-1861
- Syd Barrett English musician, founding singer of Pink Floyd
Spelling variants
- Barret
- Barrat
Names with the same feeling
See Barrett from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Barrett mean?
- English surname from one of two roots: the Germanic personal name Berhart ('bear-strong') or the Old French baret ('quarrel, dispute'). Elizabeth Barrett Browning the Victorian poet is the literary anchor.
- What does Barrett mean in English?
- In English, Barrett means "Bear-strength, or 'quarrel'." Barrett is an English surname from two competing roots. The dominant reading derives it from the Germanic personal name Berhart, a compound of bero ('bear') and hart ('strong, brave'), meaning 'bear-strong.' The alternate reading comes from the Old French baret ('quarrel, dispute'), originally a nickname for an argumentative person. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861), the Victorian poet of Sonnets from the Portuguese ('How do I love thee? Let me count the ways'), is the deepest literary anchor through the surname. As a first name Barrett is American and modern: rare before 2000, then climbing. It entered the US top 500 in 2014. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd's founding singer) gives the rock reference. Common short: Bear or Barre.
- How do you pronounce Barrett?
- Barrett is pronounced ˈbɛr.ət. Say it as BAR-rett, with the stress on the "bar" syllable.
- How do you spell Barrett?
- The standard spelling is Barrett. Common spelling variants include Barret, Barrat.
- Is Barrett a boy or girl name?
- Barrett is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Barrett?
- Barrett ranked #171 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.