Falcon Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Falcon

Pronunciation: FAL-kun / FAWL-kun

Meaning Bird of prey Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#12,623
TREND
7,703

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Falcon in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Falcon

  • 521 babies named Falcon: U.S. records list 521 babies given the name Falcon from 1880 through 2025. Even 23 girls received the name Falcon - about 1 girl for every 22 boys.

What Does the Name Falcon Mean?

Falcon is an English word name meaning "falcon," the hawk-like bird of prey. The word came into English from Old French faucon, which descends from Late Latin falco (genitive falconis).

The deeper origin of falco is not settled. A traditional explanation, repeated by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, links it to Latin falx, "sickle," suggesting the curve of the bird's wings or talons. Another view holds that the word spread from a Germanic source, since related forms appear across the Germanic languages, including Old Norse fálki, Old High German falko, and modern German Falke. Whether Latin borrowed from Germanic, Germanic from Latin, or both from a shared earlier word remains unclear.

As a surname in medieval England and France, Falcon usually worked as a nickname: it could denote a falconer or someone compared to the bird. The modern given name is generally taken directly from the bird rather than inherited from the surname. The same Latin word also underlies the Spanish and Italian surnames Falcón and Falcone.

Falcon Name History & Origins

Falcon appears first in medieval England and France as a byname and surname. A le Faucon or Falcon might be a falconer - a keeper and trainer of hawks - or a man likened to the bird; the related occupational surname Falconer points to the same trade. The noun itself was well established in Middle English as faucon, and falconry was a familiar pursuit among the medieval nobility, which kept the vocabulary of hawking in everyday use.

Use of Falcon as a first name belongs mainly to the modern period, when English speakers began drawing given names directly from nature and from ordinary words. It remains uncommon. It also occurs in the middle position, as in the full name of the Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott.

How Popular is the Name Falcon?

Falcon has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #3,674 in 2020.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore More Lists with Name Falcon

Most Popular Boy Names That Start with F

See List of Most Popular Boy Names Starting with F

How the Name Falcon Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.

✦ Falcon's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Falcon's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
Explore Insights & Tips

Name Search