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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201936peak #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 1936

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedIDMontana: #155 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 780 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #134 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 559 girlsNDMinnesota: #178 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,242 girlsMNIllinois: #192 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 1,444 girlsILWisconsin: #153 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,033 girlsWIMichigan: #260 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,584 girlsMINew York: #414 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 5,850 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedRIOregon: #152 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 773 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #156 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 729 girlsSDIowa: #264 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,654 girlsIAIndiana: #368 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,638 girlsINOhio: #279 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,931 girlsOHPennsylvania: #211 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 1,733 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #265 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,841 girlsCAUtah: #175 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 760 girlsUTColorado: #160 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 720 girlsCONebraska: #156 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 889 girlsNEMissouri: #205 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,291 girlsMOKentucky: #298 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,339 girlsKYWest Virginia: #246 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,669 girlsWVVirginia: #374 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,547 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMDDelaware: 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: #153 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 777 girlsKSArkansas: #245 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,331 girlsARTennessee: #370 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,773 girlsTNNorth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #274 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,816 girlsOKLouisiana: #404 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,413 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: #561 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 4,990 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. North Dakota#134 · 1 in 559
  2. Oregon#152 · 1 in 773
  3. Kansas#153 · 1 in 777
  4. Wisconsin#153 · 1 in 1,033
  5. Montana#155 · 1 in 780

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
North Dakota#134101 in 559
Oregon#15271 in 773
Kansas#153161 in 777
Wisconsin#153221 in 1,033
Montana#15551 in 780
Nebraska#156111 in 889
South Dakota#15671 in 729
Colorado#160111 in 720
Utah#17561 in 760
Minnesota#178161 in 1,242
Illinois#192351 in 1,444
Missouri#205201 in 1,291
Pennsylvania#211411 in 1,733
Arkansas#245131 in 1,331
West Virginia#246111 in 1,669
Michigan#260151 in 2,584
Iowa#26471 in 2,654
California#265201 in 1,841
Oklahoma#274111 in 1,816
Ohio#279161 in 2,931
Kentucky#298111 in 2,339
Indiana#36851 in 4,638
Tennessee#37071 in 3,773
Virginia#37451 in 4,547
Louisiana#40461 in 3,413
New York#414141 in 5,850
Texas#561111 in 4,990
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Mississippi———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Carolina———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
Vermont———
Washington———
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 1936

girls
#303
395 births · 1 in 2,634 girls
boys
#2,629
8 births · 1 in 129,651 boys

Top girls' names in 1936

  1. #1Mary54,377
  2. #2Shirley35,161
  3. #3Barbara31,682
  4. #4Betty25,868
  5. #5Patricia23,916
  6. #6Dorothy17,666
  7. #7Joan17,072
  8. #8Nancy16,755
  9. #9Margaret14,596
  10. #10Carol14,520
  11. #303Fern395

Top boys' names in 1936

  1. #1Robert58,500
  2. #2James54,694
  3. #3John47,683
  4. #4William39,398
  5. #5Richard33,494
  6. #6Charles29,101
  7. #7Donald28,639
  8. #8Thomas18,342
  9. #9George18,197
  10. #10David17,476
  11. #2,629Fern8
More about 1936

girls

1,040,390 girls got a published name in 1936; 1 in 2,634 of them was named Fern, which outranked 93.8% of the 4,856 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #300Jeannine416
  2. #301Lela407
  3. #302Leola396
  4. #303Fern395
  5. #304Clarice393
  6. #305Lenora392
  7. #306Olga388
Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,238Shelba#3,742 → #504
  2. ↑ 662Shelby#840 → #178
  3. ↑ 600Wendy#1,418 → #818
  4. ↑ 588Deanna#1,356 → #768
  5. ↑ 546Shari#1,514 → #968
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,028Norita#713 → #1,741
  2. ↓ 506Vernetta#974 → #1,480
  3. ↓ 461Ozella#984 → #1,445
  4. ↓ 400Shirleyann#896 → #1,296
  5. ↓ 342Idell#925 → #1,267

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

boys

1,037,205 boys got a published name in 1936; 1 in 129,651 of them was named Fern, which outranked 34.9% of the 4,037 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #2,452Yvon9
  2. #2,452Zachary9
  3. #2,452Zollie9
  4. #2,629Fern8
  5. #2,629Abbie8
  6. #2,629Addie8
  7. #2,629Ahmed8
  8. #2,854Abbott7
  9. #2,854Adalberto7
  10. #2,854Addis7

Tied with 224 names at #2,629; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 802Errol#1,708 → #906
  2. ↑ 644Sergio#1,584 → #940
  3. ↑ 601Brice#1,494 → #893
  4. ↑ 537Windell#1,390 → #853
  5. ↑ 529Kim#1,390 → #861
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,082Stafford#980 → #2,062
  2. ↓ 889Darwyn#750 → #1,639
  3. ↓ 461Hunter#956 → #1,417
  4. ↓ 399Orvil#844 → #1,243
  5. ↓ 370Rosendo#956 → #1,326

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

See the top 100 for 1936 →