An uncommon Latin pick — distinctive and rare.
Vernell is a unisex baby name of Latin origin, derived from the Latin vernus, meaning 'of spring, vernal' — evoking the season of renewal and new growth. The -ell suffix adds a gentle, lyrical quality to the seasonal root.
Vernell was used primarily in African American communities from the 1920s through the 1960s. Its springtime meaning gives it a quiet optimism — a name that carries the promise of fresh beginnings.
Vernell has 93+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1897.
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 101 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 228 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 617 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 1,200 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 1,340 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 1,588 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 1,445 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 510 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 60 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 5 | — |
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5 | #16844 |
| 1998 | 6 | #14039 |
| 1995 | 6 | #13336 |
| 1994 | 6 | #13373 |
| 1993 | 7 | #11746 |
| 1989 | 5 | #14473 |
| 1988 | 10 | #7671 |
| 1987 | 7 | #9788 |
| 1986 | 7 | #9510 |
| 1985 | 9 | #7536 |
| 1984 | 10 | #6789 |
| 1983 | 19 | #4105 |
| 1982 | 13 | #5524 |
| 1981 | 6 | #10375 |
| 1980 | 15 | #4969 |
| 1979 | 20 | #3901 |
| 1978 | 15 | #4676 |
| 1977 | 17 | #4228 |
| 1976 | 20 | #3533 |
| 1975 | 17 | #3943 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Though more common for girls, Vernell has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 3,344 births since 1910.
Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1897–1999) · Methodology