Fontane
Variant spelling of the French name meaning "fountain" or "spring".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Fontane. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Fontane today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fontane births was 1979 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fontane. 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 Fontane. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1979
5 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1979 SSA rank
#6,382
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Fontane: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Fontane 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 Fontane during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Fontane
The given name Fontane has its origins in the French language, deriving from the Old French word "fontaine," which translates to "fountain" or "spring." This name is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries, when French culture and language were widely influential across Europe.
Fontane was initially a surname associated with individuals who lived near a fountain or a natural spring. As surnames gradually evolved into given names, Fontane became a first name, particularly popular in France and other regions where French language and culture held sway.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fontane can be found in the 13th-century French epic poem "La Chanson de Roland," where a character named Fontane is mentioned. However, it is unclear whether this was a first name or a surname.
In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Fontane Bienvenu (1530-1616), a French poet and playwright known for his works celebrating the beauty of nature and rural life. His writings contributed to the popularity of the name during the Renaissance period.
Another notable figure bearing the name Fontane was Theodor Fontane (1819-1898), a renowned German novelist and poet. Although Fontane was his surname, his works, such as "Effi Briest" and "Der Stechlin," brought significant literary recognition to the name.
In the 19th century, Fontane Maury (1847-1926), a French lawyer and politician, made his mark as a prominent figure in the Third Republic of France, serving as a deputy and a senator.
Fontane Nauri (1905-1985), an Italian artist and sculptor, was also known for his works in the mid-20th century, contributing to the cultural significance of the name in Italy.
Lastly, Fontane Pradier (1938-2010), a French actor and director, gained recognition for his performances in numerous films and television series throughout his career, further cementing the name's association with the arts and entertainment.
These historical figures, spanning various centuries and fields, have contributed to the rich legacy and cultural significance of the given name Fontane, reflecting its French origins and its enduring presence in literature, politics, and the arts.
People
Fontane + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fontane 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
Fontane: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fontane?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fontane 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 Fontane a common name?
We classify Fontane 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 Fontane most popular?
The single biggest year for Fontane was 1979, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fontane is about 44 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 Fontane in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Fontane a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fontane 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 Fontane still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Fontane 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 Fontane 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 the name Fontane?
See how many people have the name Fontane on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.