The name Barnes is of English origin, derived from the Old Norse personal name Bern, which was brought to England by Scandinavian settlers during the Viking Age. It means 'bear cub' or 'strong as a bear'. The name became popular in England due to its association with medieval surnames like Barnard and Barnwell, which were derived from places called Bern's field (Barnard) and Bern's spring (Barnwell). Today, Barnes is still considered a strong and robust name, often associated with the outdoors and nature.
The name Barnes has seen varying popularity over the years, with notable spikes in recent times. Between 1913 and 1957, there were a total of 124 babies named Barnes, with the highest number of births in any single year being 10 in 1923. After a gap of nearly five decades, the name resurfaced with 5 births in 2009, followed by consistent presence with at least one birth every year since then, peaking again at 10 births in both 2019 and 2023. In total, from 2009 to 2023, there were 62 babies named Barnes, indicating a renewed interest in the name in recent years.