Ferdinand is a name that was pretty popular in the United States during the first half of the 20th century, but it fell out of favor by the 1970s. However, the name has been around for centuries. It was associated with royalty for years in countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Germany. These days, we may associate it with a classic children's book and think of it as a literary name. Either way, it's time for Ferdinand to make a comeback.
Meaning of the name Ferdinand:
German: Prepared, journey, peace, protection
Origin of the name Ferdinand:
Ferdinand is an Old Germanic name with an exact meaning that's unknown. Based on the potential elements that make up the name, it could mean “prepared,” “journey,” “peace,” and “protection.”
Symbolism of the name Ferdinand:
Because it has many meanings, new parents may find plenty of symbolism in the name Ferdinand. They may give the name to their baby boy to ensure he's prepared and protected for a peaceful journey through life. New parents may also find symbolism in the children's book “The Story of Ferdinand.” Because the name was associated with royalty for centuries, parents may choose the name as a symbol that their baby is the new king or prince in the family.
Style of the name Ferdinand:
Traditional
Gender of the name Ferdinand:
Ferdinand is a boy's name.
Pronunciation of the name Ferdinand:
FUR-duh-nand
Number of syllables in the name Ferdinand:
Three
Emotion evoked from the name Ferdinand:
The baby name Ferdinand evokes images of someone who is wild and carefree.
Alternative spellings for the name Ferdinand:
N/A
Nicknames for the name Ferdinand:
- Ferd
- Fredy
- Ferdie
Popularity of the name Ferdinand:
According to the Social Security Administration, Ferdinand was a top 1,000 baby name for boys in the United States on and off up until 1971. It was most popular in 1914 when it ranked at number 320. It last ranked at number 986 in 1971.
Related names for the name Ferdinand:
- Fernando
- Fernandas
- Hernando
- Hernan
- Ferran
Great middle names for Ferdinand and their meanings:
- Mason (stone worker)
- Jacob (supplanter)
- Noah (rest)
- Henry (ruler of the house)
- Jackson (son of Jack)
- Levi (joined)
- Wyatt (brave at war)
- Hunter (one who Hunts)
- Thomas (twin)
Famous people with the name Ferdinand:
- Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. (birth name of basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
- Fernando Alonso (race car driver)
- Ferdinand Bol (painter)
- Ferdinand Jodl (World War II general)
- Ferdinand de Rothschild (banker)
Ferdinand in popular culture:
- Ferdinand (character in the play “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare)
- Ferdinand Griffon (character in the movie “Pierrot le fou”)
- Ferdinand (character on the TV show “Thomas and Friends”)
- Ferdinand (character in the video game “L.A. Noire”)
- FerdinandBull (character in the children's book “The Story of Ferdinand”)