Fernand is a masculine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Germanic elements "farhn" meaning journey or faring, and "man" meaning man. Therefore, Fernand can be interpreted as "journeying man."
The name Fernand first appeared in France during the Middle Ages. It was borne by several notable historical figures, including Fernand Leger (1881-1955), a French painter who was a leading figure of the Cubist movement, and Fernandel (1903-1971), a French actor and singer known for his comic roles.
While Fernand may not be as popular today as it once was, it remains a classic French name with a strong historical background. It is often associated with charm, wit, and sophistication due to its long-standing usage in France and other Francophone countries.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Fernand has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a noticeable increase in the number of babies named Fernand, with the highest numbers recorded between 1912 and 1932.
The peak of popularity for the name Fernand occurred in 1922, with 73 births that year. This high point was followed by several years of relatively consistent popularity, with 54 to 69 babies named Fernand each year from 1923 to 1928. However, after this period, the number of annual births with the name Fernand began to decrease steadily.
From 1929 onwards, there were fewer than 50 births per year for the name Fernand in the United States. This trend continued throughout most of the 20th century, with only occasional spikes in popularity. For instance, there were 30 births in 1942 and 21 births in 1943, but these numbers remained relatively low compared to the early 20th-century peak.
In more recent years, the name Fernand has seen a slight resurgence in popularity, with 7 births recorded in both 1951 and 2017. However, overall, the total number of babies named Fernand each year has consistently decreased since the 1920s. In total, there have been 1493 births for the name Fernand in the United States.