Ferris Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: FAIR-iss //ˈfɛr.ɪs//
Origin: Irish; English
Meaning: Irish: man of the ferocious one; English: rock
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ferris has its roots in the Latin word "ferre," which means "to carry" or "to bear." This Latin term evolved into the Old French "ferrier," meaning "blacksmith," which was used to denote someone who worked with iron. The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French names and terms were adopted into the English language.
The name Ferris likely emerged as a surname before being used as a given name, reflecting the occupational heritage of individuals involved in metalworking or smithing. Historically, the name Ferris can be traced back to various notable figures, particularly in medieval England.
One significant milestone is the appearance of the surname in records from the 12th century, where it was associated with landowners and knights. The name gained further recognition through the Ferris family, who were prominent in the English nobility during the Middle Ages.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical documents and texts, contributing to its establishment in the English lexicon. Culturally, the name Ferris carries connotations of strength and craftsmanship, reflecting the qualities associated with blacksmiths in medieval society.
The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its association with industriousness and resilience, traits that were highly valued in historical contexts. A diminutive form, "Ferry," has also been used, though it is less common.
Overall, Ferris embodies a rich linguistic and cultural heritage that highlights its significance throughout history.
Famous people named Ferris
In this section, you will find notable people named Ferris. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ferris who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ferris who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Ferris Bueller is a fictional character best known for the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Ferris Fain is a former professional baseball player best known for playing in Major League Baseball.
Ferris Jabr is a writer best known for his work in The New Yorker and other publications.
Fictional characters named Ferris
The following list of fictional characters named Ferris is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Ferris Bueller is a fictional character from the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He is a charismatic high school student who skips school for a day of adventure in Chicago with his friends.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ferris, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ferris. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Ferris was first seen in the United States in 1893.
Ferris has ranked as high as #1304 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Michigan, California, New York, Texas, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Ferris has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ferris is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ferris was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Ferris (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ferris.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 56 |
| 2023 | 41 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2021 | 42 |
| 2020 | 35 |
| 2019 | 29 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2016 | 48 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2013 | 34 |
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2008 | 26 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 1998 | 17 |
| 1997 | 13 |
| 1996 | 18 |
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1994 | 18 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1992 | 16 |
| 1991 | 14 |
| 1990 | 16 |
| 1989 | 13 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1987 | 16 |
| 1986 | 17 |
| 1985 | 11 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1983 | 12 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 8 |
| 1979 | 9 |
| 1978 | 11 |
| 1977 | 16 |
| 1976 | 14 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1974 | 16 |
| 1973 | 15 |
| 1972 | 10 |
| 1971 | 8 |
| 1970 | 17 |
| 1969 | 16 |
| 1968 | 10 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 11 |
| 1965 | 13 |
| 1964 | 12 |
| 1963 | 10 |
| 1962 | 18 |
| 1961 | 19 |
| 1960 | 17 |
| 1959 | 17 |
| 1958 | 25 |
| 1957 | 23 |
| 1956 | 16 |
| 1955 | 33 |
| 1954 | 21 |
| 1953 | 30 |
| 1952 | 26 |
| 1951 | 25 |
| 1950 | 27 |
| 1949 | 28 |
| 1948 | 22 |
| 1947 | 39 |
| 1946 | 20 |
| 1945 | 22 |
| 1944 | 18 |
| 1943 | 32 |
| 1942 | 30 |
| 1941 | 21 |
| 1940 | 27 |
| 1939 | 31 |
| 1938 | 21 |
| 1937 | 16 |
| 1936 | 15 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1934 | 13 |
| 1933 | 23 |
| 1932 | 28 |
| 1931 | 32 |
| 1930 | 29 |
| 1929 | 34 |
| 1928 | 28 |
| 1927 | 44 |
| 1926 | 46 |
| 1925 | 44 |
| 1924 | 45 |
| 1923 | 45 |
| 1922 | 53 |
| 1921 | 45 |
| 1920 | 38 |
| 1919 | 36 |
| 1918 | 42 |
| 1917 | 39 |
| 1916 | 35 |
| 1915 | 42 |
| 1914 | 29 |
| 1913 | 31 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1911 | 10 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1907 | 9 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1904 | 7 |
| 1902 | 10 |
| 1900 | 9 |
| 1896 | 7 |
| 1895 | 6 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1893 | 6 |