Fern Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Fern is an Old English name that means a type of flowering plant. It has evolved from the Old English 'fearn' to modern English 'fern'. The name is associated with nature and has gained popularity since the 19th century. It is viewed as gentle and feminine, with notable figures sharing the name.
The name Fern is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Fern has been too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Fern' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1755th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2837th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5099th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10718th out of 10718 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 16359th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 186th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 313th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 670th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2101st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5878th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6171st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1816th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Fern' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Fern"
Pronunciation
/fɜrn/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'Fern' originates from the Old English word 'fearn', which refers to the flowering plant of the same name. It is also linked to the Latin word 'ferna'.
Meaning
a type of flowering plant
Language Evolution
Old English: fearn, Middle English: fern, Modern English: fern
Historical Usage
The name Fern gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often associated with nature and the Victorian fascination with plants.
Variants & Derivatives
Ferna, Fernae, Fernie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Fern is perceived as gentle and nature-inspired, often associated with femininity and tranquility.
Famous People
Fern Gully (fictional character), Fernanda Montenegro (Brazilian actress), Fern McCann (British television personality)
Explore More Fern Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Fern"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Fern"
"Fern" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1755th of 7545 | 305 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2837th of 6773 | 131 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 5099th of 7552 | 31 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10718th of 10718 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 16359th of 23106 | 21 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 186th of 9107 | 20,566 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 313th of 9204 | 7,836 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 670th of 12526 | 3,890 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2101st of 19264 | 646 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5878th of 27321 | 220 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6171st of 35406 | 313 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1816th of 30306 | 1,369 |
Regional Popularity of "Fern" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
78.61% 1084th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Fern" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
7.56% 107th/1416 |
18.35% 253rd/1379 |
13.48% 319th/2366 |
10.68% 122nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
13.26% 205th/1546 |
20.18% 314th/1556 |
19.12% 450th/2353 |
19.39% 300th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
28.56% 636th/2227 |
18.07% 439th/2430 |
39.22% 1119th/2853 |
32.76% 909th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
40.08% 1396th/3483 |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
85.91% 5427th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
100.00% 5164th/5164 |
- |
78.60% 5866th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
38.48% 1533rd/3984 |
42.68% 1915th/4487 |
42.55% 2903rd/6822 |
21.54% 1352nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Fern"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Fern" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.