Ferdinand
Ferdinand: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfɝdn̩.ænd/ · /ˈfɝdən-/
Meaning and origin of Ferdinand
Root meaning: “journey”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages, best known for a 13th century king of Spain, but seldom popular in English.
Etymology
From Spanish Ferdinando, from Proto-Germanic *fardiz (“journey”) + *nanþaz (“daring”) (from the root of *ninþaną (“to be daring”)). * (Uranus): The moon is named after a character in Shakespeare's The Tempest. * (Philippines): Named after Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos
How popular is Ferdinand?
Since 1880, 8,909 boys in the U.S. have been named Ferdinand. Its highest rank for boys was #229 in 1884. In 2025, 24 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Ferdinand
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Ferdinand
Sister and brother names that share Ferdinand's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Ferdinand FAQ
What does the name Ferdinand mean?
Ferdinand traces back to a root meaning "journey". A male given name from the Germanic languages, best known for a 13th century king of Spain, but seldom popular in English. From Spanish Ferdinando, from Proto-Germanic *fardiz (“journey”) + *nanþaz (“daring”) (from the root of *ninþaną (“to be daring”)). * (Uranus): The moon is named after a character in Shakespeare's The Tempest. * (Philippines): Named after Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos
What is the origin of the name Ferdinand?
Ferdinand is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Ferdinand?
Since 1880, 8,909 boys in the U.S. have been named Ferdinand. Its highest rank for boys was #229 in 1884. In 2025, 24 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Ferdinand a boy or girl name?
Ferdinand is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 0 girls and 8,909 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.