A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Fletcher since 1880
Babies named Fletcher per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2025, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fletcher's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 285 |
| 1890s | 327 |
| 1900s | 375 |
| 1910s | 1,126 |
| 1920s | 1,406 |
| 1930s | 1,091 |
| 1940s | 1,056 |
| 1950s | 965 |
| 1960s | 745 |
| 1970s | 545 |
| 1980s | 709 |
| 1990s | 884 |
| 2000s | 1,706 |
| 2010s | 3,461 |
| 2020s | 2,738 |
Meaning & origin
Fletcher is an occupational surname turned given name, originally denoting an arrow maker. It first appeared on the U.S. charts in 1880 and reached its peak rank of 92 in 1892, reflecting a strong preference for surname names in the late 19th century. After a long decline, the name has been rising in popularity since 1991, likely driven by the appeal of its 'craftsman' meaning and modern sound. In 2025, it ranked 545th, with a rate of 1 in 3,111 newborn boys. The name is most common in Alaska, South Dakota, and Arkansas, suggesting a regional preference in states with outdoor or rural traditions.
Fletcher comes from the Old French word 'flechier', meaning a maker or seller of arrows. The name was brought to England by the Normans and became established as a surname for those engaged in the trade. As a given name, it has been used since the 19th century, particularly in the United States, where it saw early popularity in the 1880s and 1890s.
Where Fletcher is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Fletcher” around the world
Where Fletcher lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
New Zealand
35
babies in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#67
in 2025
Sources: NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Fletch
Sibling names for Fletcher
Names that share Fletcher's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Harper, Piper, Sawyer, Carter, Skyler, Loxley, Aberdeen, Floreine, Marly, Timberlee
Brothers: Cooper, Mason, Parker, Carter, Hunter, Baker, Foster, Rhett, Wells, Schuyler, Cotton, Fielding, Fuller, Sheppard, Sterlin, Whitaker, Bartlett, Brewster, Chapin, Fowler, Grantham, Hawthorne, Leyland, Marsden, Saunders, Thaxton, Whittaker, Woodward, Calcifer, Caulder, Churchill, Forrester, Kipper, Matheson, Seager, Vedder, Waller
