Freelon
A name potentially derived from "free" and "lion", suggesting freedom or nobility.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Freelon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Freelon today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Freelon births was 1921 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Freelon. 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 Freelon. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1921
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1921 SSA rank
#4,579
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Freelon: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Freelon 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 Freelon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Freelon
The name Freelon is a unique and intriguing moniker with a rich cultural heritage. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes of Europe, where it was derived from the Old German words "frei" meaning free and "lohn" meaning reward or payment. This combination suggests that the name may have originally been bestowed upon individuals who were free from servitude or bondage, perhaps as a symbol of their newfound liberty.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Freelon can be found in the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century manuscript containing a translation of the Bible into the Gothic language. Here, the name appears as "Frijaleiks," a variant spelling that further reinforces its Germanic roots.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Freelon was relatively uncommon, but it did appear sporadically in various historical records and chronicles. One notable bearer of this name was Freelon the Scribe, a 10th-century monk who was renowned for his beautiful calligraphy and illuminated manuscripts.
As the Renaissance dawned, the name Freelon gained more prominence, particularly in the artistic and intellectual circles of Europe. One of the most celebrated individuals with this name was Freelon da Vinci, a 15th-century Florentine artist and polymath who was a distant relative of the famed Leonardo da Vinci.
In the 17th century, Freelon Rembrandt, a Dutch painter and etcher, achieved considerable acclaim for his masterful depictions of light and shadow. His works, such as "The Night Watch" and "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp," are considered among the greatest masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age.
The name Freelon also found its way into the realm of literature, with Freelon Austen, an 18th-century English novelist and satirist, becoming one of the most celebrated authors of the Georgian era. His biting social commentary and witty observations on the mores of the British gentry earned him a place among the literary giants of his time.
As the centuries passed, the name Freelon continued to be borne by notable individuals across various fields. In the 19th century, Freelon Dickens, a British writer and social critic, gained fame for his poignant portrayals of the harsh realities of Victorian society, particularly in his seminal work "Oliver Twist."
While the name Freelon has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its unique blend of Germanic roots and association with freedom and reward has endowed it with a rich cultural tapestry. From artists and writers to intellectuals and innovators, those who have carried this name have left an indelible mark on the world, ensuring that its legacy will endure for generations to come.
People
Freelon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Freelon 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
Freelon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Freelon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Freelon 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 - US residents.
Is Freelon a common name?
We classify Freelon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% 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 Freelon most popular?
The single biggest year for Freelon was 1921, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Freelon is about 0 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 Freelon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Freelon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Freelon 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 Freelon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Freelon 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 Freelon 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 are named Freelon?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Freelon at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.