Meaning & Origin
A female given name.
Fern is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English fearn, the name of the ancient fern plant, meaning 'fern' — one of Earth's most ancient plants, unchanged for over 360 million years, symbolizing endurance, new beginnings, and the eternal renewal of nature.
Fern has a Victorian botanical charm that feels simultaneously very old and surprisingly fresh — it's the kind of botanical name that belongs in a sun-dappled greenhouse alongside Violet, Iris, and Lily. The beloved pig-owning protagonist of Charlotte's Web gave Fern an eternal childhood literary association that keeps it warmly alive in the imagination.