Fun Facts About the Name Fern
- More than 38 thousand babies named Fern: U.S. records list 38,192 babies given the name Fern from 1880 through 2025. Even 529 boys received the name Fern - about 1 boy for every 71 girls.
What Does the Name Fern Mean?
Fern is the English word for the fern plant, and that is the name's only established meaning. The word descends from Old English fearn, from a Germanic form reconstructed as *farnaz. Closely related plant words appear in other old Germanic languages, such as Old Saxon farn and Old High German farn, the ancestor of modern German Farn.
A deeper origin is often proposed: a very old Indo-European word for "leaf" or "feather," seen in Sanskrit parṇá-. This connection is widely repeated and plausible, but it is a reconstruction rather than a recorded step, so the older root meaning should be treated as probable rather than certain. Later symbolic readings of fern - for example, the folklore of the invisible "fern seed" gathered on Midsummer Eve - are plant lore attached to the word, not part of its etymology.
English is also unusual in using a plain plant word unchanged as a personal name, so Fern has no separate original form to explain: unlike names borrowed and shortened from Latin, Greek, Hebrew, or Germanic compounds, it was simply taken over from the vocabulary word. It should not be confused with the Spanish and Portuguese name Fernanda, whose Germanic components (fardi "journey" and nanth "courage") are unrelated in meaning and origin.
Fern Name History & Origins
Fern entered use as a personal name in the English-speaking world in the 19th century, when plant, flower, and nature words became common choices for girls - alongside Rose, Violet, Daisy, Hazel, and Myrtle. The underlying plant word is far older: fearn is recorded in Old English, and by the Middle English period the spelling had settled into the modern form fern.
Among 19th-century American examples, the journalist Sara Payson Willis (1811 - 1872) wrote under the pen name Fanny Fern, taking the second element from the plant. The name continued in modest but steady use through the 20th century in Britain and the United States.
Its best-known literary appearance is Fern Arable, the girl who rescues the pig Wilbur in E. B. White's Charlotte's Web (1952). The book made the name familiar to a wide readership, but Fern was already an established given name well before that; the character is a literary use, not the name's origin. The word also titles Dylan Thomas's poem "Fern Hill" (1946), which takes its name from a farm rather than a person.
How Popular is the Name Fern?
Fern recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1918. Its best rank was #152 in 1916.
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.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,220 | 186 | 0.0116% |
| 2024 | #1,261 | 184 | 0.0114% |
| 2023 | #1,428 | 156 | 0.0097% |
| 2022 | #1,481 | 148 | 0.0090% |
| 2021 | #1,500 | 141 | 0.0086% |
| 2020 | #1,564 | 135 | 0.0084% |
| 2019 | #1,866 | 108 | 0.0064% |
| 2018 | #1,660 | 127 | 0.0075% |
| 2017 | #2,206 | 86 | 0.0050% |
| 2016 | #2,213 | 87 | 0.0049% |
| 2015 | #2,199 | 86 | 0.0048% |
| 2014 | #2,696 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 2013 | #3,418 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 2012 | #3,547 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 2011 | #4,283 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2010 | #4,427 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #5,439 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2008 | #5,336 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2007 | #11,096 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #7,608 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #6,632 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #6,312 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #8,151 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #9,049 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #10,378 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #6,030 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #7,381 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #8,806 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #7,950 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #12,336 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #6,774 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #6,807 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #9,877 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #13,988 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #8,827 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #8,712 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #5,638 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #4,533 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1987 | #8,239 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #11,514 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #5,455 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #3,771 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1983 | #4,331 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #2,916 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1981 | #3,094 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1980 | #4,383 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #3,016 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1978 | #4,321 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #3,659 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1976 | #4,016 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #3,188 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1974 | #2,858 | 25 | 0.0017% |
| 1973 | #2,323 | 33 | 0.0023% |
| 1972 | #2,366 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1971 | #2,043 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 1970 | #1,490 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 1969 | #1,739 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1968 | #1,523 | 56 | 0.0034% |
| 1967 | #1,304 | 70 | 0.0042% |
| 1966 | #1,286 | 71 | 0.0042% |
| 1965 | #1,173 | 84 | 0.0048% |
| 1964 | #1,061 | 105 | 0.0055% |
| 1963 | #1,022 | 109 | 0.0057% |
| 1962 | #1,121 | 94 | 0.0048% |
| 1961 | #822 | 164 | 0.0081% |
| 1960 | #758 | 183 | 0.0091% |
| 1959 | #702 | 204 | 0.0101% |
| 1958 | #749 | 177 | 0.0088% |
| 1957 | #732 | 187 | 0.0091% |
| 1956 | #629 | 232 | 0.0116% |
| 1955 | #633 | 216 | 0.0110% |
| 1954 | #586 | 237 | 0.0122% |
| 1953 | #543 | 256 | 0.0136% |
| 1952 | #577 | 226 | 0.0122% |
| 1951 | #527 | 250 | 0.0139% |
| 1950 | #547 | 228 | 0.0133% |
| 1949 | #538 | 238 | 0.0139% |
| 1948 | #528 | 245 | 0.0144% |
| 1947 | #520 | 255 | 0.0144% |
| 1946 | #464 | 284 | 0.0181% |
| 1945 | #442 | 260 | 0.0199% |
| 1944 | #427 | 281 | 0.0212% |
| 1943 | #424 | 300 | 0.0215% |
| 1942 | #407 | 311 | 0.0230% |
| 1941 | #396 | 301 | 0.0249% |
| 1940 | #359 | 328 | 0.0287% |
| 1939 | #359 | 327 | 0.0298% |
| 1938 | #323 | 377 | 0.0342% |
| 1937 | #326 | 366 | 0.0344% |
| 1936 | #303 | 395 | 0.0380% |
| 1935 | #289 | 429 | 0.0409% |
| 1934 | #285 | 462 | 0.0442% |
| 1933 | #275 | 507 | 0.0503% |
| 1932 | #277 | 503 | 0.0471% |
| 1931 | #255 | 571 | 0.0536% |
| 1930 | #246 | 633 | 0.0562% |
| 1929 | #231 | 679 | 0.0608% |
| 1928 | #222 | 806 | 0.0699% |
| 1927 | #219 | 845 | 0.0709% |
| 1926 | #209 | 912 | 0.0769% |
| 1925 | #203 | 976 | 0.0802% |
| 1924 | #197 | 1,059 | 0.0848% |
| 1923 | #187 | 1,169 | 0.0969% |
| 1922 | #182 | 1,207 | 0.1005% |
| 1921 | #174 | 1,297 | 0.1052% |
| 1920 | #170 | 1,304 | 0.1088% |
| 1919 | #176 | 1,181 | 0.1045% |
| 1918 | #164 | 1,341 | 0.1158% |
| 1917 | #162 | 1,261 | 0.1166% |
| 1916 | #152 | 1,332 | 0.1275% |
| 1915 | #157 | 1,175 | 0.1194% |
| 1914 | #172 | 821 | 0.1078% |
| 1913 | #166 | 697 | 0.1116% |
| 1912 | #167 | 613 | 0.1098% |
| 1911 | #172 | 435 | 0.1040% |
| 1910 | #174 | 394 | 0.0994% |
| 1909 | #174 | 345 | 0.0994% |
| 1908 | #166 | 364 | 0.1089% |
| 1907 | #193 | 276 | 0.0866% |
| 1906 | #181 | 277 | 0.0938% |
| 1905 | #183 | 273 | 0.0936% |
| 1904 | #173 | 281 | 0.1020% |
| 1903 | #177 | 276 | 0.1054% |
| 1902 | #190 | 238 | 0.0901% |
| 1901 | #191 | 217 | 0.0907% |
| 1900 | #193 | 266 | 0.0887% |
| 1899 | #182 | 232 | 0.0996% |
| 1898 | #175 | 265 | 0.1024% |
| 1897 | #178 | 237 | 0.1012% |
| 1896 | #186 | 218 | 0.0916% |
| 1895 | #200 | 184 | 0.0788% |
| 1894 | #188 | 197 | 0.0884% |
| 1893 | #185 | 189 | 0.0888% |
| 1892 | #192 | 172 | 0.0810% |
| 1891 | #216 | 124 | 0.0669% |
| 1890 | #224 | 119 | 0.0625% |
| 1889 | #230 | 103 | 0.0577% |
| 1888 | #262 | 77 | 0.0431% |
| 1887 | #252 | 69 | 0.0473% |
| 1886 | #358 | 36 | 0.0249% |
| 1885 | #304 | 44 | 0.0331% |
| 1884 | #306 | 40 | 0.0310% |
| 1883 | #440 | 19 | 0.0169% |
| 1882 | #349 | 26 | 0.0241% |
| 1881 | #554 | 10 | 0.0109% |
| 1880 | #558 | 10 | 0.0110% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #5,719 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #12,957 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #4,954 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #4,250 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1953 | #2,994 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #3,919 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #2,856 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,868 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #2,633 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #3,029 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #3,675 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,625 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1938 | #3,293 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #2,374 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1936 | #2,712 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1935 | #3,064 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #2,819 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #1,861 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1932 | #3,508 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #2,245 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1930 | #3,116 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #2,245 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #2,308 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1927 | #1,901 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1926 | #3,224 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #2,122 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,080 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1923 | #1,897 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1922 | #1,983 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1921 | #1,731 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1920 | #1,716 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1919 | #2,003 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1918 | #2,102 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #1,926 | 16 | 0.0017% |
| 1916 | #1,795 | 17 | 0.0019% |
| 1915 | #1,320 | 26 | 0.0031% |
| 1914 | #1,717 | 14 | 0.0021% |
| 1913 | #1,720 | 11 | 0.0021% |
| 1912 | #2,118 | 7 | 0.0016% |
| 1911 | #1,443 | 7 | 0.0031% |
| 1910 | #1,350 | 7 | 0.0036% |
| 1909 | #1,112 | 8 | 0.0049% |
| 1906 | #1,302 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1905 | #1,301 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1903 | #710 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1902 | #1,056 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1897 | #812 | 8 | 0.0071% |
| 1894 | #893 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1893 | #1,097 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1889 | #1,021 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1886 | #885 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1884 | #1,025 | 5 | 0.0044% |
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.
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How the Name Fern 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 have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Fern's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Fern's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.