Burnes
Germanic origin meaning bright or shining.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Burnes. It is a predominantly male name (91.9% of registrations). The average person named Burnes today is around 92 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Burnes births was 1919 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Burnes. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Burnes is about 92 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Burnes' were born before 1944.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Burnes. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1919
7 babies that year
Average age
92
years old
1940 SSA rank
#3,512
Tracked since 1916
Gender
Gender distribution for Burnes
Burnes leans heavily male at 91.9% of total registrations, but 5 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Burnes as a male name
- Ranked #3,512 in 1940
- 5 male births in 1940
- Peak: 1919 (7 births)
Burnes as a female name
- Ranked #4,903 in 1927
- 5 female births in 1927
- Peak: 1927 (5 births)
Popularity
Burnes: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Burnes from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 33 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Burnes by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Burnes during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Burnes
The given name Burnes is believed to have originated from the Old English word "burna," meaning a small stream or brook. It was a common name among the Anglo-Saxons, particularly in the regions of Northumbria and East Anglia during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burnes can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Burnard" and "Burnulf," indicating its widespread usage among the English population at the time.
In the 12th century, the name Burnes gained prominence with the birth of Burnes of Wycomb, a celebrated English monk and scholar who lived from 1115 to 1181. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of theology and his contributions to the intellectual life of the monastic community.
During the Renaissance period, the name Burnes was associated with the renowned English explorer and scholar Sir Alexander Burnes, who lived from 1805 to 1841. He was known for his extensive travels in Central Asia and his writings, which provided valuable insights into the region's culture and history.
Another notable figure with the name Burnes was Sir Samuel Burnes, a British diplomat and soldier who lived from 1789 to 1868. He served as the British Resident in Afghanistan and played a significant role in the diplomatic relations between the two nations during the 19th century.
In the world of literature, the name Burnes is immortalized through the works of William Wordsworth, the renowned English Romantic poet. In his poem "Michael," published in 1800, the character of the shepherd Michael is described as having the name Burnes, adding a touch of authenticity to the pastoral setting.
Throughout history, the name Burnes has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting its enduring appeal and cultural significance. While its origin can be traced back to the Old English language, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be celebrated as a symbol of resilience and perseverance.
People
Burnes + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Burnes as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Burnes: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Burnes?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Burnes going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Burnes a common name?
We classify Burnes as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 62 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Burnes most popular?
The single biggest year for Burnes was 1919, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Burnes is about 92 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Burnes in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Burnes a male name?
Yes, 91.9% of people registered as Burnes in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Burnes still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Burnes in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Burnes can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Burnes?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Burnes at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.