Fernand first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Fernand has been for the last 44 years (from 1974 to 2017) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Fernand

A French masculine given name derived from the Germanic name Ferdinand, meaning "brave traveler".

Popularity of Fernand by gender

Based on the last 44 years of data, Fernand is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2017, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Fernand.

Year Male Count Female Count
2017 7 0
1996 5 0
1991 5 0
1990 6 0
1989 5 0
1988 9 0
1986 6 0
1984 7 0
1980 5 0
1979 7 0
1977 12 0
1975 9 0
1974 5 0

The history of the first name Fernand

The name Fernand is a French masculine given name derived from the Germanic name Ferdinand, which is composed of the elements "frið" meaning peace, and "nanþ" meaning daring or brave. It originated during the Middle Ages, around the 9th century AD, and was initially popular among the Frankish nobility.

The earliest recorded use of the name Fernand can be traced back to the 11th century, when it appeared in various medieval French texts and records. One notable historical figure who bore this name was Fernand, Count of Flanders, who lived from around 1020 to 1070 AD and played a significant role in the political affairs of the region during his time.

As the name spread across Europe, it gained popularity in various countries and cultures, with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. In Spain, for example, the name took the form of Fernando, while in Portugal it became Fernão.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Fernand. One of the most famous was Fernand Cortez (1485-1547), the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico. Another prominent individual was Fernand Braudel (1902-1985), a renowned French historian and a leader of the Annales School of historical writing.

In the realm of arts and literature, the name Fernand is associated with figures such as Fernand Léger (1881-1955), a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, and Fernand Gregh (1873-1960), a French poet and playwright. The name has also been carried by various political and military leaders, including Fernand Geyelin (1890-1964), a Belgian military officer and statesman, and Fernand Bouisson (1874-1959), a French politician and Prime Minister of France in 1935.

While these are just a few examples, the name Fernand has a rich history spanning centuries and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields, reflecting its enduring popularity and cultural significance.

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 Fernand was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Fernand first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 6, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/fernand-meaning-and-history/.

"Fernand first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/fernand-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 6 June, 2025

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

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