Fernando
Fernando: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /fɝˈnændoʊ/
Meaning and origin of Fernando
Root meaning: “journey”
- A male given name from Spanish; diminutive forms Fer, Nando.
Etymology
From Spanish Fernando, a contraction of Ferdinando, equivalent to English Ferdinand. From Proto-Germanic *fardiz (“journey”) or *friþuz (“peace”) + *nanþaz (“daring”) (from the root of *ninþaną (“to be daring”)).
How popular is Fernando?
Since 1880, 590 girls and 103,139 boys in the U.S. have been named Fernando (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3772 in 1981. Its highest rank for boys was #149 in 1997. In 2025 it ranked #387 for boys, with 819 babies given the name.
Names similar to Fernando
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Spanish boy names
Sibling name ideas for Fernando
Sister and brother names that share Fernando's Spanish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Fernando FAQ
What does the name Fernando mean?
Fernando traces back to a root meaning "journey". A male given name from Spanish; diminutive forms Fer, Nando. From Spanish Fernando, a contraction of Ferdinando, equivalent to English Ferdinand. From Proto-Germanic *fardiz (“journey”) or *friþuz (“peace”) + *nanþaz (“daring”) (from the root of *ninþaną (“to be daring”)).
What is the origin of the name Fernando?
Fernando is listed as a name of Spanish origin.
How popular is the name Fernando?
Since 1880, 590 girls and 103,139 boys in the U.S. have been named Fernando (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3772 in 1981. Its highest rank for boys was #149 in 1997. In 2025 it ranked #387 for boys, with 819 babies given the name.
Is Fernando a boy or girl name?
Fernando is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 590 girls and 103,139 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.