Holding steady.
Popularity of Fleming since 1880
Babies named Fleming per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1917, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fleming's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 40 |
| 1890s | 45 |
| 1900s | 55 |
| 1910s | 180 |
| 1920s | 176 |
| 1930s | 142 |
| 1940s | 121 |
| 1950s | 112 |
| 1960s | 86 |
| 1970s | 43 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Fleming first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880, the earliest year of Social Security data. Its peak year was 1883, indicating a brief period of modest use as a given name in the late 19th century. The name's trajectory is stable, meaning it has seen rare but consistent use over the decades without large fluctuations. Fleming has not been recorded in the top 1,000 names for boys in recent years, and its one-in-N ratio is too small to estimate, reflecting its rarity. As an English and Irish surname-turned-first-name, Fleming carries a distinctive occupational and geographic heritage, making it an uncommon choice that appeals to families with ancestral ties to Flanders or an affinity for surname-style given names.
Fleming is a surname of Irish and English origin, derived from the Old English term 'Fleming' meaning 'a person from Flanders.' The name was brought to Ireland and Britain by settlers and mercenaries from Flanders in the medieval period. It became established as a hereditary surname, particularly among families in counties Meath and Cork, and later saw occasional use as a given name, especially in the late 19th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Flem
Sibling names for Fleming
Names that share Fleming's style, for a brother or sister.
