Total births
1,911
Unisex name · since 1897
Ferrell
Ferrell has 1,911 recorded births since 1897 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1935 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 1,911
- total births
- 1897–2015
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 19%
- born in that decade
1,911 boys have been named Ferrell since 1897, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Ferrell has 1,911 recorded births among boys since 1897, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1930s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1897 to 2015.
- 1,911 total births
- 1897–2015 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 19% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,911 boys have been named Ferrell since 1897, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 2015.
- 1,911
- total births
- 1897–2015
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 19%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
19% of everyone ever named Ferrell was born in this single decade.
1935
Single peak year
48 babies were named Ferrell in 1935 - its busiest year on record.
Ferrell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Ferrell's full recorded timeline at 1959, 29% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 71% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1897, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1935 peak of 48 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Ferrell at a glance
Last recorded 2015Peak year
1935
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1897
Ferrell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1897–2015
- Peak year (1935)
- 48
- Annual births at peak, across 119 years of records
Ferrell popularity over time - girls
162 total births recorded since 1915 (Ferrell as girls' name)
Ferrell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Ferrell's strongest decade.
355 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 19% of all-time use.
Ferrell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
167 births
- 1920s
1920s
269 births
- 1930s
1930s
355 births
- 1940s
1940s
331 births
- 1950s
1950s
254 births
- 1960s
1960s
197 births
- 1970s 120
1970s
120 births
- 1980s 88
1980s
88 births
- 1990s 56
1990s
56 births
- 2000s 42
2000s
42 births
- 2010s 27
2010s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 355 births (19% of all-time use).
How Ferrell compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Ferrell's total volume
Ferrell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Ferrell by state
Where Ferrell concentrates geographically, total births since 1897
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | | 68 | 3.6% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 65 | 3.4% |
| #3 | Texas | | 44 | 2.3% |
| #4 | Tennessee | | 21 | 1.1% |
| #5 | Arkansas | | 15 | 0.8% |
| #6 | Louisiana | | 9 | 0.5% |
| #7 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.3% |
Alabama share of Ferrell's total US births 3.6%
Even split
68 of 1,911 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ferrell? ▼
Since 1897, Social Security records show 1,911 babies named Ferrell. The most recent recorded year was 2015. Its busiest year on record was 1935, with 48 births.
When was Ferrell most popular? ▼
Ferrell was most popular in the 1930s decade with 355 total births. The single peak year was 1935.
Where is Ferrell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ferrell are Alabama (68 births), Georgia (65 births), Texas (44 births).
Is Ferrell a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Ferrell is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,911 births, and as a girl's name it has 162 births.
How long has the name Ferrell been used? ▼
Records for Ferrell go back to 1897, giving 119 years of history through 2015.
What names are similar to Ferrell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Fernando, Ferdinand, Fermin, Ferris, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Ferrell's data
- Ferrell's decade-level peak was the 1930s (355 total births); usage has since declined to 27 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Alabama records the most Ferrells (68 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Alabama names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Ferrell
Nearby Names Like Ferrell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ferrell
Fernando Boy
#352 103,139 births
Ferdinand Boy
#3897 8,909 births
Fermin Boy
#3698 4,832 births
Ferris Boy
#2424 2,837 births
Fernand Boy
1,493 births
Compare Ferrell side by side: Ferrell vs Fernando Ferrell vs Ferdinand Ferrell vs Fermin
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Lydell #6893
1,911 births · Peak 1977
Dontavious #6601
1,912 births · Peak 1991
Waleed #3364
1,910 births · Peak 2000
Long #3730
1,909 births · Peak 1988
Gionni #2006
1,908 births · Peak 2012
Sherrill
1,915 births · Peak 1936
Westen #1400
1,907 births · Peak 2025
Wheeler #2835
1,916 births · Peak 2024
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1897–2015 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ferrell: Baby Name Since 1897 - 1,911 Births, Peak 1935." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ferrell. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Ferrell draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.