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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201924peak #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 1924

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedAKMaine: #205 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,207 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNHWashington: #156 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 899 girlsWAIdaho: #92 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 321 girlsIDMontana: #61 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 228 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #64 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 209 girlsNDMinnesota: #94 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 408 girlsMNIllinois: #134 for girls · 91 births · 1 in 684 girlsILWisconsin: #111 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 560 girlsWIMichigan: #128 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 729 girlsMINew York: #348 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 4,609 girlsNYMassachusetts: #277 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,749 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedRIOregon: #132 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 565 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #63 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 219 girlsSDIowa: #86 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 343 girlsIAIndiana: #162 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 974 girlsINOhio: #205 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,607 girlsOHPennsylvania: #161 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 1,069 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNJConnecticut: #221 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,187 girlsCTCalifornia: #179 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 972 girlsCAUtah: #43 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 174 girlsUTColorado: #120 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 485 girlsCONebraska: #84 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 327 girlsNEMissouri: #84 for girls · 91 births · 1 in 353 girlsMOKentucky: #261 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,866 girlsKYWest Virginia: #314 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,395 girlsWVVirginia: #397 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 4,809 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedDEArizona: #184 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 734 girlsAZNew Mexico: #219 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 855 girlsNMKansas: #110 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 448 girlsKSArkansas: #199 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 985 girlsARTennessee: #493 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,977 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #463 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 5,912 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #134 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 570 girlsOKLouisiana: #465 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 4,057 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: #400 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,497 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Utah#43 · 1 in 174
  2. Montana#61 · 1 in 228
  3. South Dakota#63 · 1 in 219
  4. North Dakota#64 · 1 in 209
  5. Nebraska#84 · 1 in 327

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#43291 in 174
Montana#61181 in 228
South Dakota#63291 in 219
North Dakota#64311 in 209
Missouri#84911 in 353
Nebraska#84381 in 327
Iowa#86641 in 343
Idaho#92121 in 321
Minnesota#94561 in 408
Kansas#110371 in 448
Wisconsin#111451 in 560
Colorado#120191 in 485
Michigan#128561 in 729
Oregon#132111 in 565
Illinois#134911 in 684
Oklahoma#134451 in 570
Washington#156111 in 899
Pennsylvania#161931 in 1,069
Indiana#162291 in 974
California#179391 in 972
Arizona#18451 in 734
Arkansas#199221 in 985
Maine#20561 in 1,207
Ohio#205361 in 1,607
New Mexico#21951 in 855
Connecticut#22161 in 2,187
Kentucky#261171 in 1,866
Massachusetts#277101 in 3,749
West Virginia#31491 in 2,395
New York#348221 in 4,609
Virginia#39761 in 4,809
Texas#400251 in 2,497
North Carolina#46371 in 5,912
Louisiana#46561 in 4,057
Tennessee#49351 in 5,977
Alabama———
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Maryland———
Mississippi———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

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 1924

girls
#197
1,059 births · 1 in 1,179 girls
boys
#2,043
16 births · 1 in 70,796 boys

Top girls' names in 1924

  1. #1Mary73,534
  2. #2Dorothy39,996
  3. #3Helen31,194
  4. #4Betty30,600
  5. #5Margaret26,547
  6. #6Ruth23,601
  7. #7Virginia18,620
  8. #8Mildred15,853
  9. #9Doris15,786
  10. #10Frances15,183
  11. #197Fern1,059

Top boys' names in 1924

  1. #1Robert60,802
  2. #2John59,052
  3. #3William53,506
  4. #4James52,942
  5. #5Charles30,460
  6. #6George27,373
  7. #7Joseph25,421
  8. #8Richard21,244
  9. #9Edward21,126
  10. #10Donald17,929
  11. #2,043Fern16
More about 1924

girls

1,248,872 girls got a published name in 1924; 1 in 1,179 of them was named Fern, which outranked 96.7% of the 5,900 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #194Victoria1,102
  2. #195Angelina1,082
  3. #196Johnnie1,072
  4. #197Fern1,059
  5. #198Olive1,058
  6. #199Lila1,053
  7. #200Della1,050
Biggest movers since 1923
Risers
  1. ↑ 459Bettylou#1,327 → #868
  2. ↑ 374Doloris#1,350 → #976
  3. ↑ 332Gaynell#1,283 → #951
  4. ↑ 313Toby#1,305 → #992
  5. ↑ 262Letty#1,213 → #951
Fallers
  1. ↓ 388Izola#966 → #1,354
  2. ↓ 305Fumiko#953 → #1,258
  3. ↓ 303Clemmie#941 → #1,244
  4. ↓ 276Cruz#793 → #1,069
  5. ↓ 271Eris#457 → #728

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

boys

1,132,742 boys got a published name in 1924; 1 in 70,796 of them was named Fern, which outranked 58.9% of the 4,970 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 32.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #1,964Vinton17
  2. #1,964Zebedee17
  3. #1,964Zollie17
  4. #2,043Fern16
  5. #2,043Aden16
  6. #2,043Alpheus16
  7. #2,043Alston16
  8. #2,132Agnes15
  9. #2,132Aime15
  10. #2,132Aleck15

Tied with 88 names at #2,043; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1923
Risers
  1. ↑ 436Faustino#1,420 → #984
  2. ↑ 338Conway#1,275 → #937
  3. ↑ 310Coolidge#1,041 → #731
  4. ↑ 291Chas#1,235 → #944
  5. ↑ 287Leopoldo#1,194 → #907
Fallers
  1. ↓ 466Cliff#992 → #1,458
  2. ↓ 403Harding#860 → #1,263
  3. ↓ 367Dempsey#750 → #1,117
  4. ↓ 363Price#924 → #1,287
  5. ↓ 350Terrence#873 → #1,223

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

See the top 100 for 1924 →