Faren
A feminine name with an uncertain meaning or origin.
Name Census estimates that about 259 living Americans carry the first name Faren. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Faren today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Faren births was 1986 (85 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Faren. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
259
~ 1 in 1,323,376 Americans
Peak year
1986
85 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2015 SSA rank
#15,107
Tracked since 1969
Popularity
Faren: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Faren from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 192 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Faren by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Faren during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Farens live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Louisiana, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Faren, while Ohio, California, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Faren
The name Faren is believed to have its origins in ancient Germanic languages, with roots that can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "faran," meaning "to travel" or "to journey." This connection suggests that the name might have been associated with individuals who were renowned travelers or explorers in their respective communities.
In the early medieval period, variations of the name, such as "Faren" and "Farenne," were relatively common among Germanic tribes, particularly those residing in regions that are now part of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands. Some historical records from the 8th and 9th centuries mention individuals bearing this name, although specific details about their lives and accomplishments are often scarce.
One notable figure from this era was Faren the Scribe, a monk who lived in the 9th century and was renowned for his exceptional calligraphic skills. He is credited with producing some of the most beautifully illuminated manuscripts of his time, many of which are now preserved in various libraries and museums across Europe.
As the centuries progressed, the name Faren continued to be used, albeit with varying degrees of popularity. In the 12th century, a knight named Faren von Waldeck was a prominent figure in the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. He is said to have accompanied the emperor on several military campaigns and was known for his bravery and loyalty.
During the Renaissance period, a notable bearer of the name was Faren Bianchi, an Italian painter and sculptor from Florence who lived in the 15th century. His works, which primarily depicted religious scenes and portraits, were highly regarded by his contemporaries and can still be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.
In more recent history, Faren Swinton was a British explorer and writer who lived from 1861 to 1935. He gained fame for his expeditions to remote regions of Africa and Asia, and his published accounts of these journeys were widely read and acclaimed during his lifetime.
While the name Faren may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and cultural significance as a name associated with travel, exploration, and artistic expression have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of human civilization.
People
Faren + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Faren as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Faren: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Faren?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 259 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Faren going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,323,376 US residents.
Is Faren a common name?
We classify Faren as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 273 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Faren most popular?
The single biggest year for Faren was 1986, when 85 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Faren is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Faren a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Faren in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.