Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Fern
GirlEnglish· “fern plant”
- Meaning
- fern plant
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- FURN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,220
- US babies 2025
- 186
- Best rank
- #152 (1916)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Fern
Fern is an English name that means “fern plant”.
Fern is the name of the feathery green plant, from the Old English fearn. As a given name it became popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, part of a wider fashion for nature names. Many readers know Fern Arable, the girl who saves Wilbur the pig in E.B. White's Charlotte's Web. It is pronounced FURN. It can also serve as a short form of Fernanda or Fernando. The name has a gentle, natural charm and is enjoying a revival among parents who like vintage names, with Fernie as a sweet nickname.
Popularity over time
Fern has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 82 different years. Its best national rank was #152 in 1916, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 1,341 were named Fern. In 2025, 186 babies were named Fern, and it ranked #1,220 nationally. That is 116% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #170 in 1920, #547 in 1950, #4,383 in 1980, #6,030 in 2000, #4,427 in 2010, and #1,220 in 2025. Of the 37,666 US girls named Fern since records began, 27% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 9,250 babies. Since 2010, 1,670 more have been named Fern.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Eula, Henrietta, Susie, Della, and Nettie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Fern ranked highest in Oregon, Utah, and Minnesota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | #249 | 15 |
| Utah | #419 | 10 |
| Minnesota | #560 | 9 |
| Washington | #600 | 11 |
| Iowa | #601 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Fern over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Fern is usually pronounced FURN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with F and ends in “-rn”.
Middle names for Fern
A few middle names that flow with Fern: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Fern
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Lists that include Fern
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Fern mean?
Fern is an English name that means “fern plant”.
What is the origin of the name Fern?
Fern has English roots. Fern is the name of the feathery green plant, from the Old English fearn.
Is Fern a popular name?
Not especially. Fern ranked #1,220 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Fern a boy or girl name?
Fern is mainly a girl's name. About 99% of US babies named Fern over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Fern?
Fern is usually pronounced FURN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings