Ferne
A French feminine name derived from the word "fern", symbolizing revitalization and endurance.
Name Census estimates that about 396 living Americans carry the first name Ferne. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ferne today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ferne births was 1916 (247 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ferne. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ferne is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Fernes were born before 1956.
People living today
396
~ 1 in 865,541 Americans
Peak year
1916
247 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
2020 SSA rank
#15,888
Tracked since 1884
Popularity
Ferne: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ferne from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 1,578 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ferne 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 Ferne during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Fernes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 25 states and territories. Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa recorded the most babies named Ferne, while Virginia, Utah, Idaho recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 97 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ferne
The name Ferne is an English feminine given name derived from the Old English word "fearn," meaning fern or bracken. It originated in Anglo-Saxon England, where ferns were abundant and held symbolic significance. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, reflecting the connection between names and nature during that era.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ferne can be traced back to the 13th century in the Domesday Book, a historical record commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. However, its usage remained relatively uncommon until the 19th century when it experienced a resurgence in popularity.
Historically, the name Ferne has been associated with botanical symbolism and a connection to the natural world. In some folklore traditions, ferns were believed to have mystical properties and were used in various rituals and ceremonies. This association may have contributed to the name's enduring appeal.
Notable historical figures named Ferne include Ferne Milner (1867-1959), an American author and playwright known for her novels set in the American Midwest. Ferne Clyffe (1891-1970) was a Canadian-American artist renowned for her landscape paintings depicting the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
In the realm of literature, Ferne Arfmann (1921-2001) was a notable American author and educator who wrote several children's books and poetry collections. Ferne Andrews (1911-1992) was a British actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the mid-20th century.
Another noteworthy figure was Ferne Jacobson (1928-2009), an American politician and activist who served as a member of the Oregon State Senate and advocated for environmental conservation and women's rights.
The name Ferne has maintained a unique charm throughout history, reflecting a connection to nature and the enduring appeal of names rooted in the natural world.
People
Ferne + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ferne 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
Ferne: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ferne?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 396 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ferne 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 865,541 US residents.
Is Ferne a common name?
We classify Ferne as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 4,676 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ferne most popular?
The single biggest year for Ferne was 1916, when 247 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ferne is about 80 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ferne a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ferne 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.