Fawna
An English feminine name meaning "fawn-colored" or "deer-like".
Name Census estimates that about 157 living Americans carry the first name Fawna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Fawna today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fawna births was 1981 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fawna. 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
157
~ 1 in 2,183,149 Americans
Peak year
1981
17 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
2004 SSA rank
#16,957
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Fawna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Fawna from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 90 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
Fawna 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 Fawna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Fawna
The name Fawna is believed to originate from the Latin word "fauna," which means "animal life" or "living creatures." It is a relatively modern name that emerged in the 20th century, likely inspired by the growing interest in nature and the environment during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Fawna can be traced back to the late 19th century, when it was occasionally used as a feminine variant of the name Faun, which refers to a half-human, half-goat creature from Roman mythology. However, its popularity as a given name did not truly take off until the mid-20th century.
While there are no major historical figures directly associated with the name Fawna, it has been used by a few notable individuals. Fawna Farmer (born 1933) is an American actress and model who appeared in several films and television shows in the 1950s and 1960s. Fawna Harrington (born 1986) is a Canadian fashion designer and entrepreneur, known for her sustainable and ethical clothing line.
Another person with the name Fawna is Fawna Mendez (born 1984), an American singer and songwriter who has released several albums in the indie rock and folk genres. Fawna Xiao (born 1993) is a Chinese-American actress and model who has appeared in various TV shows and films, including the Netflix series "Gypsy."
Lastly, Fawna MacKenzie (1962-2020) was a Canadian writer and poet, known for her works that explored themes of nature, feminism, and Indigenous perspectives. Her poetry collections, such as "Feral Visions" and "The Bone Vase," received critical acclaim and several literary awards.
While the name Fawna is relatively uncommon, its connection to nature and the natural world has likely contributed to its appeal among those who appreciate its unique and naturalistic sound. Its modern origins and limited historical usage also make it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with a fresh and unconventional feel.
People
Fawna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fawna 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
Fawna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fawna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 157 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fawna 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 2,183,149 US residents.
Is Fawna a common name?
We classify Fawna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 168 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fawna most popular?
The single biggest year for Fawna was 1981, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fawna is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Fawna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fawna 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.