Barrett is an English surname of uncertain origin; it is usually explained from the Germanic Berhard as "bear strength" or, less flatteringly, from the Middle English barat, "strife". It fits the fashion for two-syllable surnames ending in -ett, like Everett and Bennett. Barrett ranked 984th in the United States in 2000, rose steadily through the 2010s and reached number 171 in 2025, its highest position in this century.