Garret is a name of Old English origin, derived from the Old Germanic words "gar" meaning "spear" and "-weald" meaning "rule". The name was originally given to warriors who were skilled in the use of spears. It evolved into the Middle English form Garwat, and by the 14th century it had become Garrett.
The name Garet is a variant spelling of Garret, which has been used since at least the 19th century. The change from "t" to "t" is simply a matter of regional pronunciation and orthography.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the names Garret or Garet. One famous example is Garrett Augustus Morgan Sr., an African-American inventor and businessman who developed the gas mask and hair straightener in the early 20th century. Another notable figure is Garret FitzGerald, who served as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland from 1982 to 1987.
Today, Garet remains a popular name for boys, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Australia. While its original meaning may not hold much significance for many people today, it continues to be seen as a strong and powerful name due to its historical associations with warriors and leaders. Additionally, its unique spelling sets it apart from other similar-sounding names such as Garrett and Gareth. Overall, Garet is a distinctive and meaningful name with a rich history behind it.
Based on the statistical data provided, the name Garet has experienced varying levels of popularity over the years in the United States. The earliest recorded birth with the name Garet was in 1941, with only 6 occurrences that year. After a period of low prevalence during the late 1940s and early 1950s, the name began to gain traction in the mid-1960s.
The years between 1962 and 1973 saw consistent but relatively low birth counts for the name Garet, ranging from 5 to 10 births per year. However, starting in 1974, there was a notable increase in popularity, with annual birth counts reaching double digits every year until 1983. The decade of the 1980s marked a significant peak for the name Garet, with birth counts ranging from 19 to 51 each year, culminating in an all-time high of 71 births in 1999.
The turn of the millennium saw a slight decline in the popularity of the name Garet, but it remained fairly consistent throughout the early 2000s. Between 2003 and 2008, there were approximately 34 to 51 births per year with the name Garet. However, the late 2000s and early 2010s marked another significant drop in popularity, with birth counts falling as low as double digits or even single digits (10 births in 2011).
In recent years, from 2012 onwards, the name Garet has experienced a slight resurgence, with annual birth counts ranging from 7 to 17. The most recent data available shows that there were 7 births with the name Garet in 2020.
Over the course of nearly eight decades (from 1941 to 2020), a total of 1,486 children have been named Garet in the United States. While the popularity of this name has fluctuated over time, it has maintained a consistent presence among newborns throughout these years.