Garrett is a name of English origin, derived from the Old English word "gar" which means spear, and "tred" meaning guard or shield. The name Garrett is thought to have been used as an occupational name for someone who made spears or served as a spearman in an army.
The name Garrett has been used historically throughout Europe, with variations such as Gerald, Gerard, Garfield, and Gerhard all sharing the same root meaning of "strong spear". In Ireland, the name Garret was commonly used among the Irish nobility, with Garrett More O'Daly being a famous 16th-century chieftain.
The name Garrett has also been associated with notable figures throughout history. For example, Garrett Morgan was an African American inventor who invented the gas mask and improved upon the traffic light signal, while Garrett Hardin was an American ecologist known for his influential essay "The Tragedy of the Commons".
Today, Garrett remains a popular given name for boys in English-speaking countries. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Garrett has consistently ranked among the top 500 most popular baby boy names in the United States since the 1980s.
In summary, the name Garrett is of English origin and means "strong spear". It has been used historically throughout Europe and has been associated with notable figures such as Garrett Morgan and Garrett Hardin. Today, Garrett remains a popular given name for boys in English-speaking countries.
The name Garett experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. While it started with consistent but low numbers of births between 1952 and 1967 (ranging from 5 to 42), it began to gain traction in the late 1960s and early 1970s, reaching a peak of 216 births in 2000. However, popularity declined sharply thereafter, with only 10 births recorded in 2022, indicating that Garett is no longer a widely chosen name for newborns today. In total, there were 4934 babies named Garett from 1952 to 2023.