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“The fern plant” — Old English origin
Girl's name · #1220 in the US (2025) · Comeback
Fern was #152 in 1916, slipped to #13989 by 1992, and has climbed back to #1220 today. About 38,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. In Oregon it runs about 6× its national rate.
Around the world: about 1 in 480 girls in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 730 girls in New Zealand (2025) · about 1 in 1,700 girls in England & Wales (2025).
Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 18 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.
Among 81 notable people named Fern:
No single standout — notable Ferns spread across many fields.
Similar names: Elinor · Tillie · Lula · Etta · Evalyn · Ollie
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