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
- Peak · girls
- 1916 · 1,332 births
- Debut · girls
- 10 births
- In top 100 · girls
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 37,666since 1880
Fern over time
Rank among girls' names. Fern has never cracked the top 100 here.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #1,219 | 186 | — | |
| 2024 | #1,250 | 186 | #5,659 | 16 |
| 2023 | #1,421 | 157 | — | |
| 2022 | #1,478 | 148 | #12,330 | 5 |
| 2021 | #1,498 | 141 | — | |
| 2020 | #1,559 | 135 | — | |
| 2019 | #1,864 | 108 | — | |
| 2018 | #1,656 | 127 | — | |
| 2017 | #2,200 | 86 | — | |
| 2016 | #2,206 | 87 | — | |
| 2015 | #2,194 | 86 | — | |
| 2014 | #2,683 | 65 | — | |
| 2013 | #3,404 | 46 | — | |
| 2012 | #3,523 | 45 | — | |
| 2011 | #4,244 | 34 | — | |
| 2010 | #4,397 | 33 | — | |
| 2009 | #5,378 | 26 | — | |
| 2008 | #5,279 | 27 | — | |
| 2007 | #10,818 | 10 | — | |
| 2006 | #7,482 | 16 | — | |
| 2005 | #6,528 | 18 | — | |
| 2004 | #6,216 | 19 | — | |
| 2003 | #7,998 | 13 | — | |
| 2002 | #8,837 | 11 | — | |
| 2001 | #10,102 | 9 | — | |
| 2000 | #5,937 | 18 | — | |
| 1999 | #7,239 | 13 | — | |
| 1998 | #8,584 | 10 | — | |
| 1997 | #7,742 | 11 | — | |
| 1996 | #11,807 | 6 | — | |
| 1995 | #6,641 | 13 | — | |
| 1994 | #6,672 | 13 | — | |
| 1993 | #9,559 | 8 | — | |
| 1992 | #13,317 | 5 | — | |
| 1991 | #8,588 | 9 | — | |
| 1990 | #8,501 | 9 | — | |
| 1989 | #5,545 | 15 | — | |
| 1988 | #4,496 | 19 | — | |
| 1987 | #7,987 | 8 | — | |
| 1986 | #10,912 | 5 | — | |
| 1985 | #5,348 | 13 | — | |
| 1984 | #3,726 | 21 | — | |
| 1983 | #4,286 | 17 | — | |
| 1982 | #2,901 | 31 | — | |
| 1981 | #3,066 | 28 | — | |
| 1980 | #4,327 | 17 | — | |
| 1979 | #2,997 | 28 | — | |
| 1978 | #4,242 | 16 | — | |
| 1977 | #3,612 | 20 | — | |
| 1976 | #3,963 | 16 | — | |
| 1975 | #3,155 | 22 | — | |
| 1974 | #2,835 | 25 | — | |
| 1973 | #2,309 | 33 | — | |
| 1972 | #2,356 | 31 | — | |
| 1971 | #2,035 | 41 | — | |
| 1970 | #1,490 | 67 | #4,724 | 5 |
| 1969 | #1,728 | 49 | — | |
| 1968 | #1,519 | 56 | — | |
| 1967 | #1,299 | 70 | — | |
| 1966 | #1,284 | 71 | — | |
| 1965 | #1,168 | 84 | — | |
| 1964 | #1,060 | 105 | — | |
| 1963 | #1,022 | 109 | #4,048 | 5 |
| 1962 | #1,121 | 94 | — | |
| 1961 | #821 | 164 | — | |
| 1960 | #755 | 183 | — | |
| 1959 | #702 | 204 | — | |
| 1958 | #748 | 177 | — | |
| 1957 | #731 | 187 | — | |
| 1956 | #629 | 232 | — | |
| 1955 | #633 | 216 | — | |
| 1954 | #585 | 237 | — | |
| 1953 | #543 | 256 | #2,905 | 8 |
| 1952 | #577 | 226 | #3,734 | 5 |
| 1951 | #527 | 250 | — | |
| 1950 | #547 | 228 | #2,770 | 8 |
| 1949 | #538 | 238 | #3,690 | 5 |
| 1948 | #528 | 245 | — | |
| 1947 | #520 | 255 | — | |
| 1946 | #464 | 284 | — | |
| 1945 | #442 | 260 | #2,574 | 8 |
| 1944 | #427 | 281 | — | |
| 1943 | #423 | 300 | — | |
| 1942 | #407 | 311 | #2,940 | 7 |
| 1941 | #396 | 301 | #3,505 | 5 |
| 1940 | #359 | 328 | #3,459 | 5 |
| 1939 | #359 | 327 | — | |
| 1938 | #323 | 377 | #3,175 | 6 |
| 1937 | #326 | 366 | #2,332 | 10 |
| 1936 | #303 | 395 | #2,629 | 8 |
| 1935 | #289 | 429 | #2,951 | 7 |
| 1934 | #285 | 462 | #2,742 | 8 |
| 1933 | #275 | 507 | #1,829 | 15 |
| 1932 | #277 | 503 | #3,361 | 6 |
| 1931 | #255 | 571 | #2,207 | 12 |
| 1930 | #246 | 633 | #3,022 | 8 |
| 1929 | #231 | 679 | #2,199 | 13 |
| 1928 | #221 | 806 | #2,270 | 13 |
| 1927 | #219 | 845 | #1,871 | 18 |
| 1926 | #209 | 912 | #3,139 | 8 |
| 1925 | #203 | 976 | #2,089 | 15 |
| 1924 | #197 | 1,059 | #2,043 | 16 |
| 1923 | #187 | 1,169 | #1,874 | 18 |
| 1922 | #182 | 1,207 | #1,952 | 17 |
| 1921 | #174 | 1,297 | #1,703 | 21 |
| 1920 | #170 | 1,304 | #1,694 | 21 |
| 1919 | #176 | 1,181 | #1,973 | 16 |
| 1918 | #164 | 1,341 | #2,073 | 15 |
| 1917 | #162 | 1,261 | #1,900 | 16 |
| 1916 | #152 | 1,332 | #1,771 | 17 |
| 1915 | #157 | 1,175 | #1,306 | 26 |
| 1914 | #172 | 821 | #1,687 | 14 |
| 1913 | #166 | 697 | #1,676 | 11 |
| 1912 | #167 | 613 | #2,045 | 7 |
| 1911 | #172 | 435 | #1,387 | 7 |
| 1910 | #174 | 394 | #1,314 | 7 |
| 1909 | #173 | 345 | #1,083 | 8 |
| 1908 | #166 | 364 | — | |
| 1907 | #193 | 276 | — | |
| 1906 | #181 | 277 | #1,253 | 5 |
| 1905 | #183 | 273 | #1,233 | 5 |
| 1904 | #173 | 281 | — | |
| 1903 | #176 | 276 | #696 | 11 |
| 1902 | #190 | 238 | #1,013 | 6 |
| 1901 | #191 | 217 | — | |
| 1900 | #193 | 266 | — | |
| 1899 | #182 | 232 | — | |
| 1898 | #174 | 265 | — | |
| 1897 | #178 | 237 | #787 | 8 |
| 1896 | #186 | 218 | — | |
| 1895 | #199 | 184 | — | |
| 1894 | #188 | 197 | #857 | 7 |
| 1893 | #185 | 189 | #1,035 | 5 |
| 1892 | #192 | 172 | — | |
| 1891 | #214 | 124 | — | |
| 1890 | #224 | 119 | — | |
| 1889 | #230 | 103 | #974 | 5 |
| 1888 | #262 | 77 | — | |
| 1887 | #252 | 69 | — | |
| 1886 | #356 | 36 | #845 | 6 |
| 1885 | #303 | 44 | — | |
| 1884 | #304 | 40 | #971 | 5 |
| 1883 | #435 | 19 | — | |
| 1882 | #348 | 26 | — | |
| 1881 | #539 | 10 | — | |
| 1880 | #547 | 10 | — | |
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 1928
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- South Dakota#59 · 1 in 199
- North Dakota#91 · 1 in 301
- Minnesota#91 · 1 in 371
- Wisconsin#91 · 1 in 409
- Nebraska#94 · 1 in 402
Best ever in a state: #19 in Utah, 1912.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | #59 | 28 | 1 in 199 |
| Minnesota | #91 | 55 | 1 in 371 |
| North Dakota | #91 | 21 | 1 in 301 |
| Wisconsin | #91 | 59 | 1 in 409 |
| Nebraska | #94 | 28 | 1 in 402 |
| Kansas | #96 | 36 | 1 in 393 |
| Utah | #101 | 12 | 1 in 381 |
| Montana | #110 | 9 | 1 in 422 |
| Iowa | #118 | 32 | 1 in 589 |
| Missouri | #123 | 54 | 1 in 530 |
| Colorado | #125 | 15 | 1 in 559 |
| Idaho | #132 | 7 | 1 in 501 |
| Illinois | #137 | 75 | 1 in 764 |
| Oklahoma | #146 | 38 | 1 in 621 |
| Pennsylvania | #165 | 74 | 1 in 1,183 |
| Michigan | #177 | 32 | 1 in 1,287 |
| Indiana | #181 | 20 | 1 in 1,264 |
| Arizona | #193 | 5 | 1 in 791 |
| Oregon | #202 | 5 | 1 in 1,110 |
| Ohio | #218 | 29 | 1 in 1,824 |
| Arkansas | #222 | 17 | 1 in 1,090 |
| Maryland | #244 | 6 | 1 in 2,229 |
| Washington | #259 | 5 | 1 in 1,863 |
| New York | #280 | 34 | 1 in 2,906 |
| California | #284 | 18 | 1 in 2,042 |
| New Jersey | #293 | 8 | 1 in 3,758 |
| West Virginia | #308 | 8 | 1 in 2,440 |
| Kentucky | #327 | 10 | 1 in 2,776 |
| Tennessee | #385 | 7 | 1 in 3,834 |
| Virginia | #404 | 5 | 1 in 5,002 |
| Texas | #412 | 23 | 1 in 2,619 |
| Alabama | — | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Florida | — | — | — |
| Georgia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| North Carolina | — | — | — |
| 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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1916 at #152 (1,332 births)
- Births halved by 1930, 14 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 82 yrs · run 1880–1961
- Highest: 1 in 784 girls born in 1916 were named Fern (0.13%)
- Latest: 1 in 8,641 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
- 27.2% of all girls named Fern (10,254) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 434 | #230 (1889) | #358 |
| 1890s | 1,937 | #174 (1898) | #192 |
| 1900s | 2,813 | #166 (1908) | #182 |
| 1910s | 9,250 | #152 (1916) | #166 |
| 1920s | 10,254 | #170 (1920) | #199 |
| 1930s | 4,570 | #246 (1930) | #294 |
| 1940s | 2,803 | #359 (1940) | #450 |
| 1950s | 2,213 | #527 (1951) | #622 |
| 1960s | 985 | #755 (1960) | #1,178 |
| 1970s | 299 | #1,490 (1970) | #2,899 |
| 1980s | 174 | #2,901 (1982) | #5,259 |
| 1990s | 97 | #6,641 (1995) | #8,865 |
| 2000s | 167 | #5,279 (2008) | #7,458 |
| 2010s | 717 | #1,656 (2018) | #2,837 |
| 2020s | 953 | #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 1928
Top girls' names in 1928
Top boys' names in 1928
More about 1928
girls
1,153,318 girls got a published name in 1928; 1 in 1,431 of them was named Fern, which outranked 95.9% of the 5,440 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,107,613 boys got a published name in 1928; 1 in 85,201 of them was named Fern, which outranked 51.9% of the 4,723 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #2,162Yancy14
- #2,162Zachary14
- #2,162Zygmunt14
- #2,270Fern13
- #2,270Abbie13
- #2,270Alberta13
- #2,270Almer13
- #2,387Abran12
- #2,387Addie12
- #2,387Adolphe12
Tied with 116 names at #2,270; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.