The nameFerdinand
Ferdinand is a royal name of Spain and Austria. It was a top 250 American name in the 1880s.
- Boy's name
- Germanic
- Feast day
Meaning
Ferdinand comes from Germanic words often read as "journey" and "bold".
Origin
Germanic, through Spanish.
History
Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile sponsored Columbus in 1492. In the United States Ferdinand reached 229th place in 1884.
Did you know?
- Ferdinand de Lesseps led the building of the Suez Canal, opened in 1869.
Famous people named Ferdinand
- Ferdinand Magellan, navigator
- Ferdinand the Bull, children's book hero
Popularity of the name Ferdinand
Ferdinand in the United States
Ferdinand was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 1,774 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named Ferdinand. Half of all babies named Ferdinand in the United States were born before 1929, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 23 births a year.
Ferdinand in France
Ferdinand was most popular in France in the 1900s, with 4,555 births over the decade, 28% of all recorded babies named Ferdinand. Half of all babies named Ferdinand in France were born before 1920, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 45 births a year on average, against 65 in the five years before.
Ferdinand in Austria
Ferdinand in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Ferdinand
Names from the same generation as Ferdinand, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Ferdinand? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Ferdinand with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Ferdinand side by side with the name of your choice.
Ferdinand in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ferdinand mean?
Ferdinand comes from Germanic words often read as "journey" and "bold".
What is the origin of the name Ferdinand?
Germanic, through Spanish.
Is Ferdinand a girl's or a boy's name?
Ferdinand is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Ferdinand?
In 2024, Ferdinand was the 3954th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 28 births.
What are the variants of the name Ferdinand?
Variants and related names of Ferdinand include Fernand, Fernande and Hernán.
What are good sibling names for Ferdinand?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Alida, Gertrude, Emeline and Vilma for a sister, Armin, Konrad, Moussa and Eduard for a brother.
Who are famous people named Ferdinand?
Ferdinand Magellan, navigator; Ferdinand the Bull, children's book hero.