Fernanda is a feminine given name of Spanish origin. It is derived from the masculine name Fernando, which is composed of two elements: "fernando" meaning "bold or brave" and "ando" meaning "courageous". Therefore, Fernanda can be interpreted to mean "brave and courageous".
The name Fernanda has been used in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries for centuries. It was also popular among the Portuguese nobility during the medieval period. In fact, one of the most famous bearers of this name was Queen Maria Fernanda, who ruled Portugal from 1836 to 1837.
Over time, Fernanda has gained popularity beyond its traditional Spanish and Portuguese-speaking regions. Today, it is recognized as a beautiful and unique name choice for girls around the world. Although it may not be as common as some other names, those who do bear this name can take pride in its rich history and strong meaning.
Based on the provided statistics, the popularity of the name Fernanda in the United States has shown significant fluctuations over the past century.
From 1914 to 1934, the number of births with the name Fernanda remained relatively low, ranging from 5 to 16 births per year. However, starting in 1937, there was a notable increase in popularity, with the number of births reaching double digits each year until 1949.
The period between 1950 and 1986 saw continued growth in the popularity of the name Fernanda, with the annual birth count consistently ranging from 7 to 29. The most significant increase occurred between 1987 and 1993, during which time the number of births increased dramatically, reaching a peak of 171 births in 1993.
The late 1990s and early 2000s marked another period of growth for the name Fernanda. Between 1998 and 2005, the annual birth count reached as high as 795 births in 2005. However, after 2005, there was a decrease in popularity, with the number of births ranging from around 500 to 936 between 2006 and 2012.
Since 2012, the popularity of the name Fernanda has remained relatively steady, with annual birth counts ranging from approximately 500 to 700. In recent years, the number of births has increased slightly, reaching 689 in 2022 and 653 in 2023.
In total, over the past century, there have been 18,959 births with the name Fernanda in the United States. These statistics demonstrate that while Fernanda has not always been a highly popular name, its popularity has grown significantly since the mid-20th century and has remained relatively stable in recent years.