Boy · #4,404 in 2026

Gurney

A stretcher, gurney, litter, or pram is an apparatus used for moving patients who require medical care. A basic type must be carried by two or more people. A wheeled stretcher is often equipped with variable height frames, wheels, tracks, or skids.

Current Rank
#4,404
Peak Rank
#1,448 (1928)
Total Babies
790
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1890
First Year
1969
Last Year
1928
Peak Year
#1448
Peak Rank
790
Total Count
64
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Gurney

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A stretcher, gurney, litter, or pram is an apparatus used for moving patients who require medical care. A basic type must be carried by two or more people. A wheeled stretcher is often equipped with variable height frames, wheels, tracks, or skids.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Illustration of chair stretcher, "On the Transport of sick and wounded troops", 1868. A wounded knight is carried on a medieval stretcher. An early stretcher, likely made of wicker over a frame, appears in a manuscript from c. 1380 . Simple stretchers were common with militaries through the middle of the 20th century.

The Story of Gurney

Gurney first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1890, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1928, when 26 Gurneys were born — ranking #1,448 that year. As of 2026, Gurney ranks #4,404 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 790 Gurneys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Gurney

Phonetically similar names — useful when Gurney is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Gurnee
  • Kearney
  • Kearny
  • Kerney
  • Granny
  • Gree
  • Gry
  • Grainy
  • Grannie
  • Grie
  • Greeny
  • Greenie

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gurney

What does the name Gurney mean?
A stretcher, gurney, litter, or pram is an apparatus used for moving patients who require medical care. A basic type must be carried by two or more people. A wheeled stretcher is often equipped with variable height frames, wheels, tracks, or skids.
How popular is Gurney in 2026?
In 2026, Gurney ranks #4,404 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Gurney most popular?
Gurney reached its peak popularity in 1928, ranking #1,448 that year with 26 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Gurney most popular?
Gurney has historically been most popular in North Carolina. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Gurney.
Is Gurney a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Gurney is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Gurney?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Gurney include Hammond, Purvis, Keontae. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Hammond
Peak #1448
👦
Purvis
Peak #1448
👦
Keontae
Peak #1448
👦
Ancel
Peak #1449
👦
Reubin
Peak #1449
👦
Monica
Peak #1449
👦
Varian
Peak #1449
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Dawud
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About the name Gurney

Gurney is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1890 and has accumulated 790 births in the dataset. Gurney's peak popularity came in 1928 when it ranked #1,448. Use the chart and map above to compare Gurney's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.