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