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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201949peak #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 1949

  • 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: #430 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,024 girlsWAIdaho: #180 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,022 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #202 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,334 girlsNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedMNIllinois: #493 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 7,151 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedWIMichigan: #515 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 8,836 girlsMINew York: #283 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 2,677 girlsNYMassachusetts: #430 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 8,943 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedRIOregon: #330 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,006 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedSDIowa: #353 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 4,548 girlsIAIndiana: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedINOhio: #485 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 7,883 girlsOHPennsylvania: #437 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 6,847 girlsPANew Jersey: #306 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 3,538 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #741 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 11,322 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedNEMissouri: #472 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,458 girlsMOKentucky: #408 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,867 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedWVVirginia: 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: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedARTennessee: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedTNNorth 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: #355 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,072 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: #1,062 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 18,946 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Fern, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Idaho#180 · 1 in 1,022
  2. North Dakota#202 · 1 in 1,334
  3. New York#283 · 1 in 2,677
  4. New Jersey#306 · 1 in 3,538
  5. Oregon#330 · 1 in 3,006

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Idaho#18061 in 1,022
North Dakota#20251 in 1,334
New York#283531 in 2,677
New Jersey#306121 in 3,538
Oregon#33051 in 3,006
Iowa#35361 in 4,548
Oklahoma#35571 in 3,072
Kentucky#40871 in 4,867
Massachusetts#43051 in 8,943
Washington#43051 in 5,024
Pennsylvania#437151 in 6,847
Missouri#47261 in 6,458
Ohio#485111 in 7,883
Illinois#493121 in 7,151
Michigan#51581 in 8,836
California#741101 in 11,322
Texas#1,06251 in 18,946
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Indiana———
Kansas———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Minnesota———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Carolina———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Tennessee———
Utah———
Vermont———
Virginia———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
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 1949

girls
#538
238 births · 1 in 7,189 girls
boys
#3,690
5 births · 1 in 354,788 boys

Top girls' names in 1949

  1. #1Linda91,015
  2. #2Mary66,874
  3. #3Patricia46,324
  4. #4Barbara42,600
  5. #5Susan37,709
  6. #6Sandra30,643
  7. #7Nancy29,249
  8. #8Carol26,780
  9. #9Kathleen26,357
  10. #10Sharon25,713
  11. #538Fern238

Top boys' names in 1949

  1. #1James86,858
  2. #2Robert83,873
  3. #3John81,178
  4. #4William61,506
  5. #5Michael60,047
  6. #6David59,611
  7. #7Richard50,946
  8. #8Thomas45,192
  9. #9Charles40,052
  10. #10Larry31,819
  11. #3,690Fern5
More about 1949

girls

1,710,877 girls got a published name in 1949; 1 in 7,189 of them was named Fern, which outranked 91.1% of the 6,066 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #534Cathie240
  2. #534Julianne240
  3. #537Suzette239
  4. #538Fern238
  5. #538Kitty238
  6. #538Ola238
  7. #541Elvira237
  8. #541Leola237
  9. #543Jeanine236

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. ↑ 937Sharman#1,708 → #771
  2. ↑ 665Roseanna#1,422 → #757
  3. ↑ 483Shauna#1,173 → #690
  4. ↑ 293Jacalyn#1,116 → #823
  5. ↑ 267Sanjuana#1,185 → #918
Fallers
  1. ↓ 339Sandie#939 → #1,278
  2. ↓ 296Syble#955 → #1,251
  3. ↓ 272Shirleen#964 → #1,236
  4. ↓ 266Ginny#734 → #1,000
  5. ↓ 260Dina#861 → #1,121

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

boys

1,773,939 boys got a published name in 1949; 1 in 354,788 of them was named Fern, which outranked 12.2% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fern
  1. #3,298Zan6
  2. #3,298Zed6
  3. #3,298Zollie6
  4. #3,690Fern5
  5. #3,690Abundio5
  6. #3,690Alberta5
  7. #3,690Aldine5

Tied with 515 names at #3,690; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. ↑ 538Lannie#1,107 → #569
  2. ↑ 411Lenwood#1,296 → #885
  3. ↑ 338Robby#1,296 → #958
  4. ↑ 326Ocie#1,323 → #997
  5. ↑ 319Denzil#1,127 → #808
Fallers
  1. ↓ 473Loyal#989 → #1,462
  2. ↓ 446Rich#963 → #1,409
  3. ↓ 395Brock#733 → #1,128
  4. ↓ 376Baron#972 → #1,348
  5. ↓ 333Murry#989 → #1,322

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

See the top 100 for 1949 →