Garnet is a name of Middle English origin, derived from the dark red gemstone, which was in turn named for the pomegranate that the garnet crystals resemble. The surname Garnett comes from an Old English occupational surname referring to a seller of hinges. It is both a surname and a given name. The name came into occasional use along with other gem names during the late Victorian era. Garnet was among the top 1,000 names for girls in the United States between 1884 and 1944. It was most popular in 1911, when it was the 376th most popular given name for American girls. It was in occasional use for boys in the United States between 1882 and 1925. It was most popular in 1904, when it was 593rd most popular name for American boys. The name has not appeared among the top 1,000 names for boys or girls since 1944 in the United States. People Surname Eldon Garnet (born 1946), Canadian artist Henry Garnet (1555–1606), English Jesuit Henry Highland Garnet (1815–1882), African-American abolishionist John Roslyn Garnet (1906–1998), Australian biochemist and naturalist Sarah J. Garnet (1883–1911), African-American educator Thomas Garnet (1575–1608), English Jesuit priest First name Garnet Ault (1905–1993), Canadian swimmer Garnet Bailey (1946–2001), Canadian ice hockey player Garnet Baltimore (1859–1946), African-American engineer Garnet Bloomfield (born 1929), Canadian politician Garnet Bougoure (1923–2008), Australian jockey Garnet Brown (1930–2010), Canadian businessman Garnet Campbell (1903–1971), former Australian rules footballer Garnet H. Carroll (1902–1964), Australian theatre producer Garnet Clark (1917–1938), American jazz pianist Garnet Coleman (born 1961), American politician Garnet Coulter (1882–1975), Canadian politician Garnet Exelby (born 1981), Canadian ice hockey player Garnet Hathaway (1991) American ice hockey player Garnet Hughes (1880–1937), Canadian military officer Garnet Jex (1895–1979), American artist and historian Garnet Kearney (1884–1971), Canadian doctor Garnet Lee (1887–1978), English cricketer Garnet Mackley (1883–1986), New Zealand businessman and politician Garnet Malley (1892–1961), Australia WWI flying ace Garnet Mimms (born 1933), American singer Garnet Richardson (1933-2016), former Canadian curler Garnet Rogers (born 1955), Canadian musician Garnet Walch (1843–1913), Australian writer Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley (1833–1913), British Army officer Notes See also Garnet (disambiguation) Garnett (disambiguation) English-language unisex given names