Fletcher Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Fletcher has its origins in Old French, meaning 'arrow maker', and evolved through Middle English into its modern form. It reflects traits of craftsmanship and skill. There is no direct biblical relevance. The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages and saw a resurgence as a first name in the 19th century. Notable individuals with this name include athletes and musicians, contributing to its modern image as both traditional and creative.
The name Fletcher is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Fletcher has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Fletcher' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 477th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 575th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 752nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1050th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1191st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1001st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 651st out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4494th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5501st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11629th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Fletcher' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Fletcher"
Pronunciation
/ˈflɛtʃər/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Fletcher originates from the Old French word 'flechier', which means 'to make arrows'. It was likely used as an occupational surname for someone who made arrows.
Meaning
arrow maker
Language Evolution
Old French: flechier, Middle English: flecher, Modern English: Fletcher
Historical Usage
The surname Fletcher became more common in England during the Middle Ages as archery became an important skill, especially in military contexts. It gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Fletch, Fletchers
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Fletcher is perceived as a traditional yet modern name, often associated with creativity and craftsmanship due to its historical roots.
Famous People
Fletcher Cox (American football player), Fletcher Christian (mutineer on the HMS Bounty), Fletcher Henderson (jazz pianist and bandleader)
Explore More Fletcher Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Fletcher"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Fletcher"
"Fletcher" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 477th of 7545 | 2,600 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 575th of 6773 | 1,942 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 752nd of 7552 | 1,823 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1050th of 10718 | 950 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1191st of 16616 | 1,225 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1001st of 24088 | 2,769 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 651st of 23106 | 4,892 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4494th of 9107 | 70 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5501st of 9204 | 41 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 11629th of 30306 | 92 |
Regional Popularity of "Fletcher" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
61.65% 873rd/1416 |
78.61% 1084th/1379 |
13.61% 322nd/2366 |
80.30% 917th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
58.80% 915th/1556 |
18.10% 426th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
54.42% 1212th/2227 |
40.91% 994th/2430 |
21.00% 599th/2853 |
36.22% 1005th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
43.31% 1272nd/2937 |
48.89% 1703rd/3483 |
27.57% 970th/3518 |
29.13% 1178th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
45.70% 1684th/3685 |
48.18% 2156th/4475 |
24.64% 1280th/5194 |
19.95% 1260th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
18.01% 825th/4582 |
31.10% 1606th/5164 |
14.06% 1028th/7313 |
14.61% 1090th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
12.12% 483rd/3984 |
20.48% 919th/4487 |
9.18% 626th/6822 |
12.01% 754th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Fletcher" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Fletcher"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Fletcher" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.