Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Purnell isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Purnell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 768
- 762 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 1919
- 21 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 2010. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 19 in 1964. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 405 as a first name in 2020; 8,238 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Purnell’s family of names
In English usage, Purnell as a surname has a related form in Parnell.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Purnell
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Purnell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Parley
“one who negotiates” · “a reluctant man”
93% boys · 7% girls
Russel
“a little red-haired boy”
>99% boys
Caldwell
“of the cold well” · “from the cold spring”
>99% boys
Lovell
“having a soft spirit” · “resembling a young wolf”
92% boys · 8% girls
Odell
“a sweet melody” · “one who is wealthy”
98% boys · 2% girls
Herschel
“resembling a deer”
>99% boys
Vergil
“the staff-bearer”
>99% boys
Sumner
“a legal official; one who serves summons”
82% boys · 18% girls