Girl · #13,455 in 2026

Feather

Feathers are epidermal growths that form a distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on both avian (bird) and some non-avian dinosaurs and other archosaurs. They are the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates and an example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They are among the characteristics that distinguish the extant birds from other living groups.

Current Rank
#13,455
Peak Rank
#1,802 (1977)
Total Babies
554
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1974
First Year
2023
Last Year
1977
Peak Year
#1802
Peak Rank
554
Total Count
45
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Feather

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Feathers are epidermal growths that form a distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on both avian (bird) and some non-avian dinosaurs and other archosaurs. They are the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates and an example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They are among the characteristics that distinguish the extant birds from other living groups.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Parts of a feather: Vane Shaft, rachis Barbs Aftershaft, afterfeather Quill, calamus Feather derives from the Old English "feþer", which is of Germanic origin; related to Dutch "veer" and German "Feder", from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit's "patra" meaning 'wing', Latin's "penna" meaning 'feather', and Greek's "pteron", "pterux" meaning 'wing'. Quills , which were early pens used for writing, were made from feathers. The word pen itself is derived from the Latin penna , meaning feather. The French word plume can mean feather , quill , or pen .

The Story of Feather

The earliest SSA record of Feather as a baby girl name dates back to 1974, when 10 babies received it. 1977 was its biggest year on record, with 56 newborns named Feather — #1,802 in the national rankings. About 26% of every Feather on record arrived during the 1970s, its defining decade. Feather last appeared in the published SSA data in 2023, with 6 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 554 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Feather

Phonetically similar names — useful when Feather is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Fother
  • Father
  • Faither
  • Feder
  • Fedder
  • Fedor
  • Pfeffer
  • Feher
  • Fair
  • Further
  • Fare
  • Feathers

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Feather

What does the name Feather mean?
Feathers are epidermal growths that form a distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on both avian (bird) and some non-avian dinosaurs and other archosaurs. They are the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates and an example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They are among the characteristics that distinguish the extant birds from other living groups.
How popular is Feather in 2026?
In 2026, Feather ranks #13,455 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Feather most popular?
Feather reached its peak popularity in 1977, ranking #1,802 that year with 56 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Feather most popular?
Feather has historically been most popular in Oklahoma, Florida, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Feather.
Is Feather a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Feather is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Feather?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Feather include Floyce, Mazell, Ardene. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Floyce
Peak #1801
👧
Mazell
Peak #1803
👧
Ardene
Peak #1801
👧
Marilyne
Peak #1801
👧
Nelida
Peak #1803
👧
Sherrel
Peak #1801
👧
Devra
Peak #1803
👧
Lexa
Peak #1803

About the name Feather

Feather is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1974 and has accumulated 554 births in the dataset. Feather's peak popularity came in 1977 when it ranked #1,802. Use the chart and map above to compare Feather's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.