What does Fern mean?
Fern is an English nature name from the green woodland plant.
What does Poppy mean?
IS a bloom word: from the flower, whose name derives from Old English 'popæg', ultimately from Latin 'papaver' (poppy).
Fern vs Poppy
Which is more popular?
Poppy is more popular than Fern today: about 1,054 US babies were given the name Poppy in 2025, compared with 186 named Fern.
| Fern | Poppy | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The fern plant | Poppy flower |
| Origin | English | english |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | FURN | POP-ee |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1919 |
| Peak year | 1918 (1,341) | 2023 (1,077) |
| In 2025 | 186 | 1,054 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Fern
Poppy
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Fern | Poppy |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 953 | 5,488 |
| 2010s | 717 | 3,080 |
| 2000s | 167 | 412 |
| 1990s | 97 | 11 |
| 1980s | 174 | 34 |
| 1970s | 299 | 334 |
| 1960s | 985 | 52 |
| 1950s | 2,213 | 57 |
| 1940s | 2,803 | 17 |
| 1930s | 4,570 | 13 |
| 1920s | 10,254 | 36 |
| 1910s | 9,250 | 7 |
| 1900s | 2,813 | 0 |
| 1890s | 1,937 | 0 |
| 1880s | 434 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Fern or Poppy more popular?
Poppy is more popular than Fern today: about 1,054 US babies were given the name Poppy in 2025, compared with 186 named Fern.
What is the difference between Fern and Poppy?
Fern means The fern plant (English origin), while Poppy means Poppy flower (english origin).
Which name is older, Fern or Poppy?
In US records, Fern first appears in 1880 and Poppy in 1919, so Fern has the longer recorded history.