Ferras
An Arabic masculine name derived from the word "faras" meaning knight or horseman.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Ferras. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ferras today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ferras births was 1996 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ferras. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ferras. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1996
5 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
1996 SSA rank
#9,477
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Ferras: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ferras 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 Ferras during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ferras
The given name Ferras traces its origins back to the ancient Persian language, with roots that can be found in the region now known as Iran. The name is believed to have derived from the Persian word "farra," which translates to "splendor" or "radiance." This linguistic connection suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who were perceived as possessing a certain brilliance or charisma.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ferras can be found in the literary works of the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi, who lived during the 10th and 11th centuries. In his epic masterpiece, the Shahnameh, Ferdowsi mentions a character named Ferras, though the specific details surrounding this figure have been lost to time.
The name Ferras gained further prominence during the Islamic Golden Age, a period spanning from the 8th to the 13th century. During this era, several notable scholars and scientists bore the name, including Ferras al-Khwarizmi, a renowned 9th-century mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to algebra and the development of the algorithm concept.
Another notable bearer of the name was Ferras ibn Yahya al-Barmaki, a influential Persian vizier who served under the Abbasid Caliphate in the late 8th century. His legacy is closely tied to the famous Barmakid family, known for their patronage of art, culture, and intellectual pursuits.
In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the impact of Ferras ibn Harun al-Rashid, a celebrated 9th-century poet and courtier who served under the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid. His poetry was widely acclaimed for its elegance and depth, and his works remain influential in the Persian literary tradition.
Moving forward in time, the 13th century saw the rise of Ferras ibn al-Khatib, a renowned scholar and historian from Damascus. His comprehensive historical accounts, particularly his works on the Ayyubid and Mamluk dynasties, are considered invaluable sources for understanding the political and cultural landscape of the time.
While the name Ferras has remained relatively uncommon in most parts of the world, it has maintained a strong presence in certain regions, particularly those with historical ties to the Persian and Islamic cultural spheres. Throughout the centuries, the name has carried with it a sense of grandeur and intellectual prowess, reflecting its roots in the rich heritage of Persian language and literature.
People
Ferras + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ferras 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
Ferras: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ferras?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ferras 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Ferras a common name?
We classify Ferras as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ferras most popular?
The single biggest year for Ferras was 1996, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ferras is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ferras in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ferras a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ferras in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Ferras still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ferras in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ferras can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Ferras as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Ferras, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.