Boy · #12,230 in 2026

Festus

Name: Popularity of the name Festus in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Festus, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#12,230

Peak Rank

#1,849 (1916)

Total Babies

371

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1883

First Year

2023

Last Year

1916

Peak Year

#1849

Peak Rank

371

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Festus

Festus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1883, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1916, when 16 Festuss were born — ranking #1,849 that year. As of 2026, Festus ranks #12,230 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 371 Festuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Festus

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

Faustus
Festa
Fests
Fists
Fetis
Phasis
Phocis
Fusta
Fetus
Fastest
Feasts
Foetus

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Festus

What does the name Festus mean?

Festus is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1883. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Festus in 2026?

In 2026, Festus ranks #12,230 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Festus most popular?

Festus reached its peak popularity in 1916, ranking #1,849 that year with 16 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Festus most popular?

Festus has historically been most popular in North Carolina. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Festus.

Is Festus a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Festus is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Festus?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Festus include Handy, Sollie, Holger. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Festus

Festus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1883 and has accumulated 371 births in the dataset. Festus's peak popularity came in 1916 when it ranked #1,849. Use the chart and map above to compare Festus'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.