Faun first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Faun has been for the last 11 years (from 1974 to 1984) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Faun

A nature/forest spirit from Roman mythology, half human and half goat.

Popularity of Faun by gender

Based on the last 11 years of data, Faun is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1984, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Faun.

Year Male Count Female Count
1984 0 5
1981 0 6
1977 0 5
1976 0 6
1975 0 6
1974 0 6

The history of the first name Faun

The given name Faun traces its origins to ancient Greek mythology and language. The word "faun" refers to a mythological half-human, half-goat creature associated with forests and the wild. It comes from the Latin word "faunus," which itself derives from the Greek word "phaunos," meaning "to make appear or shine."

In ancient Greek mythology, fauns were depicted as lecherous and mischievous woodland creatures that often accompanied the god Pan. They were known for their love of music, dance, and revelry. The name Faun, therefore, carries connotations of nature, untamed spirit, and carefree living.

While the name Faun was not commonly used as a given name in ancient times, it did appear occasionally in Greek and Roman literature. The Roman poet Ovid, who lived from 43 BC to 17 AD, mentioned fauns in his famous work "Metamorphoses." Additionally, the Roman philosopher and writer Apuleius, who lived in the 2nd century AD, featured a faun named Pholoe in his novel "The Golden Ass."

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Faun being used as a given name dates back to the late 16th century. Faun Le Roy, born in 1554, was a French Protestant minister and author who wrote several religious works.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Faun, including:

  1. Faun Al'Nur (1856-1952), a Syrian-American writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and education in the Middle East.
  2. Faun G. Fraser (1880-1965), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota.
  3. Faun Broyles (1904-1981), an American writer and playwright who wrote several plays and television scripts, including episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Waltons."
  4. Faun Aakay (born 1973), an American artist and sculptor known for her large-scale public art installations and environmental sculptures.
  5. Faun Fenderson (born 1979), an American singer and songwriter who has released several albums and performed with various rock and metal bands.

The name Faun, while not overwhelmingly popular, has maintained a unique and intriguing presence throughout history, evoking images of nature, mythology, and a free-spirited essence.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Faun was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Faun, please contact us.

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"Faun first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/faun-meaning-and-history/.

"Faun first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/faun-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 9 May, 2025

Faun first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/faun-meaning-and-history/.

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