Garnet
Garnet is a name of Middle English origin, derived from the dark red gemstone, which was in turn named for the pomegranate that the garnet crystals resemble. The surname Garnett has multiple origins.
Meaning & Origin of Garnet
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Garnet is a name of Middle English origin, derived from the dark red gemstone, which was in turn named for the pomegranate that the garnet crystals resemble. The surname Garnett has multiple origins.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Garnet
As a girl name
Garnet first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1884, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1918, when 258 Garnets were born — ranking #407 that year. As of 2026, Garnet ranks #9,563 for girls with 7 births, falling sharply (-23%). In total, more than 7K Garnets have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Garnet first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1882, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1919, when 55 Garnets were born — ranking #898 that year. As of 2026, Garnet ranks #8,914 for boys with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 2K Garnets have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Garnet
Phonetically similar names — useful when Garnet is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Garnet
What does the name Garnet mean?
How popular is Garnet in 2026?
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In which U.S. states is Garnet most popular?
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About the name Garnet
Garnet is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1884 and has accumulated 7K births in the dataset. Garnet's peak popularity came in 1918 when it ranked #377. Use the chart and map above to compare Garnet's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1918 →
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- Top names of 2026 →
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.