Fern

Fern is a girl's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 184 girls in the United States.

Fern at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/fɜːn/

About the name Fern

Fern belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Fern first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #152 in 1916, and in 2024 184 babies received the name — 37,477 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Fern in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#152 in 1916
Peak year
1918
Babies named Fern in 2024
184
Total since 1880
37,477

Fern in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#233 in 1996
Babies named Fern in 2025
149
Total since 1996
3,074

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Fern mean?

The meaning of Fern is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Fern a boy or girl name?

Fern is a girl name. In 2024, 184 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Fern?

Fern comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Fern?

Fern first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #152 in 1916, and 184 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Fern?

Fern is pronounced /fɜːn/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.