Fern

#1,219 for girls in 2025, 186 births · Last seen for boys in 2024 at #5,659
Given to girls 98.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1916 · 1,332 births
Debut · girls
10 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
37,666
since 1880

Fern over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Fern has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201920peak #152, 1916girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1,219186—
2024#1,250186#5,65916
2023#1,421157—
2022#1,478148#12,3305
2021#1,498141—
2020#1,559135—
2019#1,864108—
2018#1,656127—
2017#2,20086—
2016#2,20687—
2015#2,19486—
2014#2,68365—
2013#3,40446—
2012#3,52345—
2011#4,24434—
2010#4,39733—
2009#5,37826—
2008#5,27927—
2007#10,81810—
2006#7,48216—
2005#6,52818—
2004#6,21619—
2003#7,99813—
2002#8,83711—
2001#10,1029—
2000#5,93718—
1999#7,23913—
1998#8,58410—
1997#7,74211—
1996#11,8076—
1995#6,64113—
1994#6,67213—
1993#9,5598—
1992#13,3175—
1991#8,5889—
1990#8,5019—
1989#5,54515—
1988#4,49619—
1987#7,9878—
1986#10,9125—
1985#5,34813—
1984#3,72621—
1983#4,28617—
1982#2,90131—
1981#3,06628—
1980#4,32717—
1979#2,99728—
1978#4,24216—
1977#3,61220—
1976#3,96316—
1975#3,15522—
1974#2,83525—
1973#2,30933—
1972#2,35631—
1971#2,03541—
1970#1,49067#4,7245
1969#1,72849—
1968#1,51956—
1967#1,29970—
1966#1,28471—
1965#1,16884—
1964#1,060105—
1963#1,022109#4,0485
1962#1,12194—
1961#821164—
1960#755183—
1959#702204—
1958#748177—
1957#731187—
1956#629232—
1955#633216—
1954#585237—
1953#543256#2,9058
1952#577226#3,7345
1951#527250—
1950#547228#2,7708
1949#538238#3,6905
1948#528245—
1947#520255—
1946#464284—
1945#442260#2,5748
1944#427281—
1943#423300—
1942#407311#2,9407
1941#396301#3,5055
1940#359328#3,4595
1939#359327—
1938#323377#3,1756
1937#326366#2,33210
1936#303395#2,6298
1935#289429#2,9517
1934#285462#2,7428
1933#275507#1,82915
1932#277503#3,3616
1931#255571#2,20712
1930#246633#3,0228
1929#231679#2,19913
1928#221806#2,27013
1927#219845#1,87118
1926#209912#3,1398
1925#203976#2,08915
1924#1971,059#2,04316
1923#1871,169#1,87418
1922#1821,207#1,95217
1921#1741,297#1,70321
1920#1701,304#1,69421
1919#1761,181#1,97316
1918#1641,341#2,07315
1917#1621,261#1,90016
1916#1521,332#1,77117
1915#1571,175#1,30626
1914#172821#1,68714
1913#166697#1,67611
1912#167613#2,0457
1911#172435#1,3877
1910#174394#1,3147
1909#173345#1,0838
1908#166364—
1907#193276—
1906#181277#1,2535
1905#183273#1,2335
1904#173281—
1903#176276#69611
1902#190238#1,0136
1901#191217—
1900#193266—
1899#182232—
1898#174265—
1897#178237#7878
1896#186218—
1895#199184—
1894#188197#8577
1893#185189#1,0355
1892#192172—
1891#214124—
1890#224119—
1889#230103#9745
1888#26277—
1887#25269—
1886#35636#8456
1885#30344—
1884#30440#9715
1883#43519—
1882#34826—
1881#53910—
1880#54710—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Fern was already there! It came in at #547, and was given to 10 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1986, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Fern is popular in 1920

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedAKMaine: #173 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 845 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNHWashington: #102 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 438 girlsWAIdaho: #46 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 161 girlsIDMontana: #69 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 229 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #61 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 198 girlsNDMinnesota: #84 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 305 girlsMNIllinois: #122 for girls · 99 births · 1 in 598 girlsILWisconsin: #107 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 461 girlsWIMichigan: #130 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 651 girlsMINew York: #279 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 3,186 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedRIOregon: #126 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 597 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNVWyoming: #55 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 160 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #48 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 165 girlsSDIowa: #75 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 305 girlsIAIndiana: #116 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 588 girlsINOhio: #162 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 1,085 girlsOHPennsylvania: #156 for girls · 89 births · 1 in 1,095 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #173 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 879 girlsCAUtah: #30 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 118 girlsUTColorado: #99 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 387 girlsCONebraska: #74 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 288 girlsNEMissouri: #72 for girls · 113 births · 1 in 271 girlsMOKentucky: #237 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,607 girlsKYWest Virginia: #239 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,541 girlsWVVirginia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedVAMaryland: #233 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,131 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNMKansas: #47 for girls · 83 births · 1 in 199 girlsKSArkansas: #148 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 594 girlsARTennessee: #346 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,098 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #478 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,223 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #95 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 405 girlsOKLouisiana: #448 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,777 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedHITexas: #331 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,839 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Utah#30 · 1 in 118
  2. Idaho#46 · 1 in 161
  3. Kansas#47 · 1 in 199
  4. South Dakota#48 · 1 in 165
  5. Wyoming#55 · 1 in 160

Best ever in a state: #19 in Utah, 1912.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#30431 in 118
Idaho#46271 in 161
Kansas#47831 in 199
South Dakota#48411 in 165
Wyoming#55101 in 160
North Dakota#61381 in 198
Montana#69221 in 229
Missouri#721131 in 271
Nebraska#74441 in 288
Iowa#75731 in 305
Minnesota#84751 in 305
Oklahoma#95631 in 405
Colorado#99231 in 387
Washington#102241 in 438
Wisconsin#107531 in 461
Indiana#116451 in 588
Illinois#122991 in 598
Oregon#126101 in 597
Michigan#130581 in 651
Arkansas#148351 in 594
Pennsylvania#156891 in 1,095
Ohio#162511 in 1,085
California#173321 in 879
Maine#17381 in 845
Maryland#23371 in 2,131
Kentucky#237181 in 1,607
West Virginia#239121 in 1,541
New York#279311 in 3,186
Texas#331311 in 1,839
Tennessee#34691 in 3,098
Louisiana#44861 in 3,777
North Carolina#47861 in 6,223
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Massachusetts———
Mississippi———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
Vermont———
Virginia———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Fern
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 31 spots since 2024 (#1,250 → #1,219)
  • 340 spots since 2020 (#1,559 → #1,219)
  • 975 spots since 2015 (#2,194 → #1,219)
  • Biggest jump: 191 spots in 1882 (#539 → #348)
  • Biggest drop: 300 spots in 1962 (#821 → #1,121)
Rise & fade · girls
36 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1916 at #152 (1,332 births)
  • Births halved by 1930, 14 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 82 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 82 yrs · run 1880–1961
Share of babies · girls
1 in 784
  • Highest: 1 in 784 girls born in 1916 were named Fern (0.13%)
  • Latest: 1 in 8,641 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 27.2% of all girls named Fern (10,254) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s434#230 (1889)#358
1890s1,937#174 (1898)#192
1900s2,813#166 (1908)#182
1910s9,250#152 (1916)#166
1920s10,254#170 (1920)#199
1930s4,570#246 (1930)#294
1940s2,803#359 (1940)#450
1950s2,213#527 (1951)#622
1960s985#755 (1960)#1,178
1970s299#1,490 (1970)#2,899
1980s174#2,901 (1982)#5,259
1990s97#6,641 (1995)#8,865
2000s167#5,279 (2008)#7,458
2010s717#1,656 (2018)#2,837
2020s953#1,219 (2025)#1,404

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Fern in 1920

girls
#170
1,304 births · 1 in 919 girls
boys
#1,694
21 births · 1 in 50,684 boys

Top girls' names in 1920

  1. #1Mary70,983
  2. #2Dorothy36,643
  3. #3Helen35,097
  4. #4Margaret27,994
  5. #5Ruth26,102
  6. #6Mildred18,060
  7. #7Virginia17,314
  8. #8Elizabeth15,908
  9. #9Frances15,883
  10. #10Anna14,581
  11. #170Fern1,304

Top boys' names in 1920

  1. #1John56,913
  2. #2William50,146
  3. #3Robert48,679
  4. #4James47,908
  5. #5Charles28,309
  6. #6George26,891
  7. #7Joseph25,587
  8. #8Edward20,097
  9. #9Frank16,430
  10. #10Richard15,010
  11. #1,694Fern21
More about 1920

girls

1,198,289 girls got a published name in 1920; 1 in 919 of them was named Fern, which outranked 97.1% of the 5,767 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #167Lorene1,353
  2. #167Margie1,353
  3. #169Eula1,305
  4. #170Fern1,304
  5. #171Henrietta1,302
  6. #172Maggie1,299
  7. #173Victoria1,286
Biggest movers since 1919
Risers
  1. ↑ 550Denise#1,481 → #931
  2. ↑ 321Blossom#1,242 → #921
  3. ↑ 311Lilia#1,242 → #931
  4. ↑ 302Ena#1,270 → #968
  5. ↑ 277Lorayne#1,216 → #939
Fallers
  1. ↓ 594Haruko#917 → #1,511
  2. ↓ 511Roselle#1,000 → #1,511
  3. ↓ 345Toshiko#967 → #1,312
  4. ↓ 304Carroll#902 → #1,206
  5. ↓ 297Santina#835 → #1,132

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,064,356 boys got a published name in 1920; 1 in 50,684 of them was named Fern, which outranked 66.0% of the 4,989 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 31.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #1,642Westley22
  2. #1,642Winslow22
  3. #1,642Wright22
  4. #1,694Fern21
  5. #1,694Afton21
  6. #1,694Agapito21
  7. #1,694Almer21
  8. #1,747Adelard20
  9. #1,747Akira20
  10. #1,747Alcide20

Tied with 52 names at #1,694; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1919
Risers
  1. ↑ 960Harding#1,351 → #391
  2. ↑ 607Cameron#1,351 → #744
  3. ↑ 566Hardin#1,531 → #965
  4. ↑ 392Laurel#1,321 → #929
  5. ↑ 368Terrence#1,297 → #929
Fallers
  1. ↓ 789Pershing#593 → #1,382
  2. ↓ 580Woodroe#877 → #1,457
  3. ↓ 385Quinten#867 → #1,252
  4. ↓ 383Orvel#890 → #1,273
  5. ↓ 373Rexford#927 → #1,300

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1920 →