How Many People Are Named Festus?
Complete statistics for the name Festus: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Festus is a Latin name meaning "festive" or "joyful," and it's one of the rarest names you'll encounter in America. Only about 76 people living in the US today carry this name, which means roughly 1 in 4,314,427 Americans are named Festus. It peaked way back in 1916 with just 16 births, and the average bearer is around 96 years old.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 9 represents compassion, humanitarianism, and wisdom gained through experience. It's associated with selfless service and a deep desire to make the world a better place.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 96All 371 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: 1916Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Festus Through the Generations
Festus tells a fascinating generational story, and it's one that skews heavily toward America's oldest living residents. Of the 371 total births ever recorded in the US, a striking 89% of living bearers are over 60, with 330 people in that older bracket. Only 26 are between 30 and 60, and a mere 15 are under 30. The name hit its modest peak in 1916 when 16 babies received it, likely reflecting a time when biblical and classical Latin names carried more cultural weight. Today, with just 76 estimated living Americans bearing the name, Festus qualifies as very rare. That said, it's far more popular globally, ranking #5,581 worldwide with 187,825 living bearers. Nigeria accounts for the largest share of people named Festus outside the United States. The trend has remained stable over the decades, never surging or completely disappearing. It's a classic, old-school name that carries the quiet dignity of an earlier era, even as its American presence slowly fades with each passing generation.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Festus's Latin roots
📄 About the Name Festus
How Many People Have the Name Festus?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 76 people in the United States currently share the name Festus. That works out to roughly 1 in every 4,314,427 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Festus a Common or Rare Name?
Festus 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 Festus Mean?
Festus means "Festive, joyful" and comes from Latin origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Festus in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Festus Most Popular?
The name Festus reached peak popularity in 1916, with 16 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
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 Festus?
Approximately 76 people named Festus live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 371. That works out to roughly 1 in 4,314,427 Americans.
Is Festus a rare name?
Festus is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 4,314,427 Americans has this name.
What does the name Festus mean?
Festus means "Festive, joyful" and comes from Latin origins.
Is Festus more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Festus are male and 0% are female.
When was Festus most popular?
Festus peaked in 1916 with 16 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
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.