NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Ferne

A French feminine name derived from the word "fern", symbolizing revitalization and endurance.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Ferne is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ferne popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #980, with 36 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 64 births.

This profile covers 677 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 779 living people in the UK are called Ferne. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ferne ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 36 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 64 girls were registered as Ferne.
  • Ferne ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #424 in 2019.
  • About 779 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ferne as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#980

2024

Births in 2024

36

Latest year

Peak year

2018

64 births

Estimated living

779

2026

Meaning

What does Ferne mean?

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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ferne over time

The chart below shows babies named Ferne registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Ferne, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 36 births in 2024, compared with 64 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ferne
016324864199620102024

Decades

Ferne by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ferne was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #797 233 5
2010s #1480 337 10
2000s #2160 90 9
1990s #2513 17 3

Geography

Where Ferne is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ferne. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Ferne ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #424 in 2019.

Scotland
4
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Ferne in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#638 in 2024

14 years of NRS records, 103 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#424 in 2019

1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Ferne

  • Ferne McCann

    television presenter

    English television personality and presenter

    1990-

Related

Names similar to Ferne

FAQ

Ferne: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ferne in the UK right now?

In 2024, Ferne was ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales, with 36 births registered.

When was Ferne most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 64 babies registered as Ferne in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ferne?

A French feminine name derived from the word "fern", symbolizing revitalization and endurance.

How many people are called Ferne in the UK?

A total of 677 babies have been registered as Ferne across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 103 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Ferne most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Ferne ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #424 in 2019. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.