How Many People Are Named Fern?

Complete statistics for the name Fern: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Fern
Very Rare
English

Fern, a rare and charming name, has been given to just 37,996 babies in the US throughout history. That's 1 in 42,232 Americans today who are named Fern, making it truly unique. With most people named Fern being over 60, it's clear this is an old-school name enjoying a resurgence.

~2,224
Living in US
1 in 149,033
Americans
1918
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Fern plant
🌐
Origin
English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 7
Personality Traits
Gentle Resilient
7
Life Path Number

Life path number 7 symbolizes introspection, wisdom, and spiritual growth.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

7,814
Worldwide Bearers
#22,021
Global Rank
🇦🇺 Australia
112
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
100
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
85
🇧🇪 Belgium
66
🇮🇳 India
61
🇸🇬 Singapore
51
🇳🇱 Netherlands
51
🇮🇱 Israel
41
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
32
🇨🇳 China
20

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
68 (1%)
♀ Female
7,746 (99%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 97
1,703
Would be under 30 (4%)
787
Would be 30–60 (2%)
35,506
Would be over 60 (93%)

All 37,996 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1918

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
100
Modern Appeal
0
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Fern Through the Generations

Fern peaked in popularity during World War I in 1918 when 1,356 babies were given this name. Over the decades, its usage has dwindled, but it's now experiencing a revival. Today, there are 7,814 Ferns living in the US, with the majority, 93%, being over 60 years old. This age skew paints a picture of a name that's been around for generations and is now being rediscovered by new parents.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Illinois 2,346
Pennsylvania 2,308
Missouri 2,109
New York 1,795
Minnesota 1,505
Iowa 1,378
Michigan 1,313
Wisconsin 1,239
Ohio 1,227
Oklahoma 1,227

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Fern's English roots

📄 About the Name Fern

How Many People Have the Name Fern?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 2,224 people in the United States currently share the name Fern. That works out to roughly 1 in every 149,033 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Fern a Common or Rare Name?

Fern is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Fern Mean?

Fern means "fern plant" and comes from English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Fern in SSA data, approximately 1% are male and 99% are female.

When Was Fern Most Popular?

The name Fern reached peak popularity in 1918, with 1,356 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Fern?

Approximately 2,224 people named Fern live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 2,224. That works out to roughly 1 in 149,033 Americans.

Is Fern a rare name?

Fern is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 149,033 Americans has this name.

What does the name Fern mean?

Fern means "fern plant" and comes from English origins.

Is Fern more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 1% of people named Fern are male and 99% are female.

When was Fern most popular?

Fern peaked in 1918 with 1,356 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US2,224
All-Time Births2,224
1 in X1 in 149,033
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age97
Peak Year1918
World Rank#22,021
Male %1%
Female %99%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.