The story behind Barney
From either the Old English personal name Bera (genitive singular Beran) or from Old English beren (“growing with barley”) + īeġ (“island”).
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈbɑɹni/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbɑːni/
Popularity
Barney ranked #12274 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Barney
Bexley
From Old English byxe (“box tree”) + leah (“wood”), equivalent to box + -ley (“lea”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Brady
From Old English brād (“broad”) + ēage (“eye”) and brād (“broad”) + ēġ (“island”); or from Irish Ó Brádaigh.
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ansley
From Old English ānsetl (“hermitage”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ashby
From Old English æsċ (“ashtree”) + Old Norse býr (“farm, town”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ashley
From Old English *Æsċlēah, composed of æsċ (“ash tree”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to Ash + -ley. Borrowed from English Ashley.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Audrey
From Middle English Aldreda, Etheldreda, from Old English Æþelþrȳþ (from æþele (“noble”) + þrȳþ (“strength”)). Borrowed from English Audrey. Borrowed from English Audrey.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Barney
Aethelred
Learned borrowing from Old English Æþelræd, Æðelred, from æþele (“noble”) + rǣd (“counsel, advice”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alfredas
Learned borrowing from Latin Alfredus, from Old English Ælfræd, from Proto-West Germanic *Albirād. Compare Latvian Alfrēds.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Athelred
A male given name from Old English Æþelræd (“noble counsel, well-advised”), variant of Æthelred, Aethelred, or Ethelred.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Barney
Alden
From Old English Ealdwine, from eald (“old”) + wine (“friend”); equivalent to Alwin. In some cases a variant of Haldane.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldith
From Old English eald (“old”) + gūþ (“battle”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldous
Short form of Old English compound given names beginning with the element eald (“old”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length