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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201937peak #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 1937

  • 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: #178 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,147 girlsWAIdaho: #108 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 426 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #229 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,029 girlsMNIllinois: #237 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,077 girlsILWisconsin: #206 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,778 girlsWIMichigan: #203 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,661 girlsMINew York: #466 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 7,594 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedRIOregon: #202 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,204 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #113 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 463 girlsSDIowa: #222 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,824 girlsIAIndiana: #356 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 4,000 girlsINOhio: #264 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,696 girlsOHPennsylvania: #255 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 2,468 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #380 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 3,383 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedUTColorado: #214 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,209 girlsCONebraska: #195 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,136 girlsNEMissouri: #162 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 837 girlsMOKentucky: #252 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,743 girlsKYWest Virginia: #333 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,175 girlsWVVirginia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedVAMaryland: 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: #239 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,725 girlsKSArkansas: #325 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,211 girlsARTennessee: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedTNNorth Carolina: #467 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,086 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #211 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,146 girlsOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedLAMississippi: 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: #611 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 5,587 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Idaho#108 · 1 in 426
  2. South Dakota#113 · 1 in 463
  3. Missouri#162 · 1 in 837
  4. Washington#178 · 1 in 1,147
  5. Nebraska#195 · 1 in 1,136

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Idaho#10891 in 426
South Dakota#113101 in 463
Missouri#162311 in 837
Washington#17891 in 1,147
Nebraska#19581 in 1,136
Oregon#20251 in 1,204
Michigan#203241 in 1,661
Wisconsin#206131 in 1,778
Oklahoma#211171 in 1,146
Colorado#21471 in 1,209
Iowa#222101 in 1,824
Minnesota#229101 in 2,029
Illinois#237251 in 2,077
Kansas#23971 in 1,725
Kentucky#252151 in 1,743
Pennsylvania#255291 in 2,468
Ohio#264181 in 2,696
Arkansas#32581 in 2,211
West Virginia#33361 in 3,175
Indiana#35661 in 4,000
California#380121 in 3,383
New York#466111 in 7,594
North Carolina#46761 in 6,086
Texas#611101 in 5,587
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
Tennessee———
Utah———
Vermont———
Virginia———
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 1937

girls
#326
366 births · 1 in 2,907 girls
boys
#2,332
10 births · 1 in 106,666 boys

Top girls' names in 1937

  1. #1Mary55,641
  2. #2Barbara34,917
  3. #3Patricia26,838
  4. #4Shirley26,823
  5. #5Betty25,337
  6. #6Carol17,336
  7. #7Nancy17,074
  8. #8Dorothy16,572
  9. #9Joan15,301
  10. #10Margaret15,144
  11. #326Fern366

Top boys' names in 1937

  1. #1Robert61,842
  2. #2James56,561
  3. #3John48,755
  4. #4William40,725
  5. #5Richard32,975
  6. #6Charles30,520
  7. #7Donald27,868
  8. #8David20,981
  9. #9Thomas19,772
  10. #10George18,439
  11. #2,332Fern10
More about 1937

girls

1,064,033 girls got a published name in 1937; 1 in 2,907 of them was named Fern, which outranked 93.4% of the 4,930 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #322Beverley371
  2. #322Clarice371
  3. #325Marlys369
  4. #326Fern366
  5. #327Lottie365
  6. #328Ola363
  7. #329Olga362
Biggest movers since 1936
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,217Noreta#4,181 → #964
  2. ↑ 2,845Noretta#3,701 → #856
  3. ↑ 2,351Leilani#3,103 → #752
  4. ↑ 1,407Deann#2,263 → #856
  5. ↑ 1,209Norita#1,741 → #532
Fallers
  1. ↓ 438Dorla#951 → #1,389
  2. ↓ 331Vilma#951 → #1,282
  3. ↓ 303Imelda#979 → #1,282
  4. ↓ 297Lulu#695 → #992
  5. ↓ 292Lyda#840 → #1,132

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

boys

1,066,659 boys got a published name in 1937; 1 in 106,666 of them was named Fern, which outranked 42.0% of the 4,020 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #2,197Wilder11
  2. #2,197Windle11
  3. #2,197Zeke11
  4. #2,332Fern10
  5. #2,332Adalberto10
  6. #2,332Almer10
  7. #2,332Alonso10
  8. #2,479Abie9
  9. #2,479Acy9
  10. #2,479Agnes9

Tied with 146 names at #2,332; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1936
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,923Tyrone#2,629 → #706
  2. ↑ 558Lamont#1,540 → #982
  3. ↑ 540Lary#1,540 → #1,000
  4. ↑ 416Errol#906 → #490
  5. ↑ 399Levon#1,356 → #957
Fallers
  1. ↓ 492Gaston#989 → #1,481
  2. ↓ 461Gorden#827 → #1,288
  3. ↓ 432Sergio#940 → #1,372
  4. ↓ 371Landon#422 → #793
  5. ↓ 347Harlen#747 → #1,094

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

See the top 100 for 1937 →