Fun Facts About the Name Ferris
- More than 3 thousand babies named Ferris: U.S. records list 3,148 babies given the name Ferris from 1880 through 2025. Even 312 girls received the name Ferris - about 1 girl for every 9 boys.
What Does the Name Ferris Mean?
Ferris is an English given name taken from the surname Ferris. The surname has more than one independent origin, so its meaning depends on the family line. In its English origin, Ferris is a patronymic from the medieval personal name Ferri, a Norman French form of a Germanic name usually identified with Frederick, from elements meaning 'peace' and 'ruler.' The surname therefore means 'son of Ferri,' and the underlying personal name means 'peaceful ruler.' In Irish, Ferris is an Anglicized form of Ó Fearghusa or Mac Fhearghusa, patronymics from the personal name Fearghus. The Old Irish elements fer ('man') and gus ('vigor, force') give the meaning 'man of vigor.' A Welsh origin is also recorded, in which Ferris represents ap Rhys, 'son of Rhys,' with Rhys often explained as 'ardor' or 'enthusiasm.' The Welsh derivation is less certain because ap Rhys more commonly produced surnames such as Price and Rees. Because these origins are separate, the name does not have a single meaning; the most commonly cited are 'man of vigor' and 'peaceful ruler.'
Ferris Name History & Origins
The surname Ferris has separate roots in England, Ireland, and Wales. In England it is a patronymic from the Norman French personal name Ferri, which was common after the Norman Conquest. The added -s marks 'son of Ferri,' as in other English patronymic surnames. The personal name Ferri is generally traced to a Germanic name represented by Frederick, from elements meaning 'peace' and 'ruler.' In Ireland, Ferris was used to Anglicize the Gaelic patronymics Ó Fearghusa ('descendant of Fearghus') and Mac Fhearghusa ('son of Fearghus'). In Wales, the name could represent ap Rhys, 'son of Rhys,' from the Welsh patronymic system; this derivation is less certain because ap Rhys more often became surnames such as Price and Rees.
As a first name, Ferris is a transferred use of the surname rather than a traditional given name in English, Irish, or Welsh. It is familiar from the character Ferris Bueller in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off; that cinematic use is a modern association, not the name's origin.
How Popular is the Name Ferris?
Ferris recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2024. Its best rank was #765 in 1902.
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 | #15,675 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #9,753 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #12,558 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #11,547 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #9,799 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #14,007 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #10,845 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #16,677 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #11,160 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #11,205 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #15,240 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #13,829 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #18,427 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #11,990 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #10,784 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #9,923 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #6,170 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #9,500 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,889 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #6,062 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #4,597 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1980 | #9,448 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #6,559 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #5,615 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #5,403 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #4,349 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #4,920 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #5,500 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #4,796 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #4,572 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1931 | #4,571 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #4,787 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1928 | #4,975 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1927 | #5,066 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1926 | #4,021 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1925 | #4,612 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #3,217 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1923 | #5,224 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #3,790 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #4,455 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #4,853 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #4,677 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #2,774 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1914 | #3,328 | 6 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #3,360 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,149 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 2024 | #2,446 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 2023 | #3,017 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 2022 | #2,653 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 2021 | #2,931 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2020 | #3,224 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2019 | #3,744 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2018 | #3,636 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2017 | #2,691 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 2016 | #2,597 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 2015 | #2,693 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 2014 | #2,823 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2013 | #3,213 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2012 | #3,643 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #4,552 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #4,407 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2009 | #4,078 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2008 | #3,970 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #3,723 | 28 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #4,271 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2005 | #5,670 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #7,150 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #4,670 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #5,216 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #4,351 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #6,046 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #6,190 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #4,072 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #4,752 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #3,728 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #6,076 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #3,644 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #4,086 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #3,805 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #4,076 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #3,664 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #4,106 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #4,261 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #3,107 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #2,927 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #3,885 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #5,824 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #3,475 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #5,210 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #3,686 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #4,640 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #4,180 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #3,477 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #2,696 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #2,870 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #2,800 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #2,496 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1973 | #2,543 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #3,224 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #3,757 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #2,231 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #2,167 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #2,797 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,525 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #2,526 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #2,302 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #2,462 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,737 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #1,914 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1961 | #1,901 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #1,996 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #2,002 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #1,565 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1957 | #1,690 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1956 | #2,037 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #1,320 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1954 | #1,676 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1953 | #1,388 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1952 | #1,496 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1951 | #1,497 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1950 | #1,405 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1949 | #1,393 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1948 | #1,575 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1947 | #1,166 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1946 | #1,614 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1945 | #1,424 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1944 | #1,648 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1943 | #1,226 | 32 | 0.0022% |
| 1942 | #1,281 | 30 | 0.0022% |
| 1941 | #1,501 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1940 | #1,295 | 27 | 0.0023% |
| 1939 | #1,176 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1938 | #1,495 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1937 | #1,783 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1936 | #1,834 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #1,304 | 27 | 0.0026% |
| 1934 | #2,055 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1933 | #1,422 | 23 | 0.0023% |
| 1932 | #1,300 | 28 | 0.0027% |
| 1931 | #1,222 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1930 | #1,349 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1929 | #1,202 | 34 | 0.0032% |
| 1928 | #1,397 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1927 | #1,064 | 44 | 0.0039% |
| 1926 | #1,021 | 46 | 0.0041% |
| 1925 | #1,048 | 44 | 0.0039% |
| 1924 | #1,062 | 45 | 0.0040% |
| 1923 | #1,064 | 45 | 0.0041% |
| 1922 | #964 | 53 | 0.0049% |
| 1921 | #1,051 | 45 | 0.0041% |
| 1920 | #1,167 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1919 | #1,170 | 36 | 0.0037% |
| 1918 | #1,042 | 42 | 0.0041% |
| 1917 | #1,067 | 39 | 0.0042% |
| 1916 | #1,103 | 35 | 0.0039% |
| 1915 | #968 | 42 | 0.0049% |
| 1914 | #1,062 | 29 | 0.0044% |
| 1913 | #884 | 31 | 0.0060% |
| 1912 | #1,199 | 16 | 0.0037% |
| 1911 | #1,140 | 10 | 0.0044% |
| 1910 | #1,474 | 6 | 0.0031% |
| 1908 | #1,049 | 8 | 0.0052% |
| 1907 | #951 | 9 | 0.0061% |
| 1905 | #1,144 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1904 | #1,002 | 7 | 0.0055% |
| 1902 | #765 | 10 | 0.0082% |
| 1900 | #931 | 9 | 0.0060% |
| 1896 | #927 | 7 | 0.0059% |
| 1895 | #1,014 | 6 | 0.0051% |
| 1894 | #1,140 | 5 | 0.0043% |
| 1893 | #946 | 6 | 0.0053% |
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 Ferris 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.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Ferris's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ferris's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.