Ferris
Ferris, also spelled Ferriss, is both a given name and a family name. It is related to the name Fergus in Ireland, and the name Ferrers in England. In Ireland, the Ferris family of County Kerry derives its surname from the patronymic Ó Fearghusa. It is also the English spelling of the similar Arabic derived names.
Meaning & Origin of Ferris
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ferris, also spelled Ferriss, is both a given name and a family name. It is related to the name Fergus in Ireland, and the name Ferrers in England. In Ireland, the Ferris family of County Kerry derives its surname from the patronymic Ó Fearghusa. It is also the English spelling of the similar Arabic derived names.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Ferris
As a girl name
Ferris first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1913, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1981, when 16 Ferriss were born — ranking #4,530 that year. As of 2026, Ferris ranks #9,521 for girls with 10 births, gradually rising (+11%). In total, more than 307 Ferriss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Ferris first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1893, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 57 Ferriss were born — ranking #2,436 that year. As of 2026, Ferris ranks #2,436 for boys with 57 births, rising sharply (+42% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Ferriss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Ferris
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Ferris Ashton (1926–2013), Australian rugby player
- Ferris Bolton (1853–1937), Canadian politician
- Ferris Fain (1921–2001), American baseball player
- Ferris S. Fitch Jr. (1853–1920), American politician
- Ferris Foreman (1808–1901), American lawyer, politician, and soldier
- Ferris Greenslet (1875–1959), American editor and writer
- Ferris Taylor (1888–1961), American film actor
- Ferris Webster (1912–1989), American film editor
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Ferris
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ferris is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ferris
What does the name Ferris mean?
How popular is Ferris in 2026?
When was Ferris most popular?
In which U.S. states is Ferris most popular?
Is Ferris a unisex name?
What names go well with Ferris?
About the name Ferris
Ferris is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1893 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Ferris's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #744. Use the chart and map above to compare Ferris's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "F" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.