Freeman Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Freeman originates from Old English, meaning 'free man'. It has evolved through various forms, beginning as 'freomann' in Old English, transitioning to 'Freeman' in Middle English, and remaining in its modern form. The name embodies traits of liberty and independence, with no direct biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the medieval period and has notable bearers in contemporary society.
The name Freeman is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South 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, Freeman has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled 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, 'Freeman' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 410th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 502nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 711th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1088th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1639th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3009th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3636th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Freeman' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Freeman"
Pronunciation
/ˈfriːmən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Freeman is derived from the Old English term 'freomann', which translates to 'free man'. It was used to denote a person who was not a serf and had certain liberties.
Meaning
free man
Language Evolution
Freomann (Old English), Freeman (Middle English), Freeman (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in medieval England as a surname and later transitioned to a given name, particularly in the 19th century among English-speaking populations.
Variants & Derivatives
Freman, Fryman
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Freeman is perceived as a traditional and strong name, often associated with values of freedom and individuality.
Famous People
Morgan Freeman (actor), Freeman Dyson (theoretical physicist), Freeman A. Hrabowski III (educational leader)
Explore More Freeman Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Freeman"
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 "Freeman"
"Freeman" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 410th of 7545 | 3,302 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 502nd of 6773 | 2,524 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 711th of 7552 | 1,991 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1088th of 10718 | 906 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1639th of 16616 | 744 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3009th of 24088 | 547 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3636th of 23106 | 363 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Freeman" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
31.43% 445th/1416 |
35.10% 484th/1379 |
13.69% 324th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
34.02% 526th/1546 |
38.17% 594th/1556 |
17.30% 407th/2353 |
61.28% 948th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
30.98% 690th/2227 |
38.85% 944th/2430 |
22.05% 629th/2853 |
34.05% 945th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
35.41% 1040th/2937 |
55.90% 1947th/3483 |
34.68% 1220th/3518 |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
41.52% 1530th/3685 |
49.50% 2215th/4475 |
38.83% 2017th/5194 |
55.42% 3501st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
57.14% 2618th/4582 |
66.98% 3459th/5164 |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
59.36% 2365th/3984 |
58.52% 2626th/4487 |
- | - |
Regional Popularity of "Freeman" 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 "Freeman"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Freeman" 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.