Fletcher
Fletcher is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Maker of arrows or arrow-smith.
Origin and history
Fletcher is an English occupational surname derived from the Old French word for an arrow-maker. It has historically been used as a masculine given name in the English-speaking world. In recent years, it has seen a modest rise in popularity in the United States alongside other classical surname-names.
Popularity in the United States
17,419 babies in the United States have been named Fletcher since 1880. It ranks #890 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #596.
States where it is most popular
- NC (10.1 %)
- GA (8.2 %)
- CA (7.5 %)
- AL (7.3 %)
- TX (7.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 285 |
| 1890-1900 | 327 |
| 1900-1910 | 375 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,126 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,406 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,091 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,056 |
| 1950-1960 | 965 |
| 1960-1970 | 745 |
| 1970-1980 | 545 |
| 1980-1990 | 709 |
| 1990-2000 | 884 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,706 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,461 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,738 |
Famous people named Fletcher
- Fletcher Knebel: Author, Novelist
- Fletcher Henderson: Pianist, Bandleader
Nicknames
Fletch
Fun facts
- The name originates from the Old French word 'flechier', referring to a craftsman who attached feathers to arrows.
- Fletcher fits into a long-standing English-language trend of adopting traditional family surnames as first names.