Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1916

Festus

Meaning joyful, merry Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

From fēstus (“joyful, merry”).

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Festus
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1916
16 babies
All-time total
371
#9,438 all-time among boys
First recorded
1883
in Social Security records

Festus popularity over time

371 babies have been named Festus since 1883, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1883Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 26 3 – #695
1890s 10 1 -62% #1,130
1900s 11 1 +10% #1,246
1910s 86 9 +682% #1,475
1920s 102 10 +19% #2,182
1930s 41 4 -60% #3,065
1940s 23 2 -44% #2,808
1950s 26 3 +13% #3,049
1960s 5 1 -81% #4,249
1970s 21 2 +320% #5,222
1980s 5 1 -76% #7,077
1990s – – – –
2000s 5 1 – #11,453
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) 10 2 – #12,674

The story of Festus

Festus is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1883, 371 American babies have been named Festus. Its peak came in 1916, when 16 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Festus stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Festus year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 5 #12,831
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 5 #12,674
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 5 #11,453
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 5 #5,750
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 8 #3,049
1950 6 #3,444
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 7 #3,065
1930 6 #3,729
1925 8 #3,237
1920 10 #2,840
1915 11 #2,359
1910 6 #1,475
1905 – –
1900 5 #1,387
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 5 #987
1880 – –

Famous people named Festus

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Festus Ezeli Festus Ezeli Nigerian basketball player (born 1989) Contemporary
  2. 2 Festus Mogae Festus Mogae President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008 (1939–2026) Contemporary
  3. 3 Festus Festus 4th-century Roman historian 390–380 · Antiquity

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Festus, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

What does the name Festus mean?

From fēstus (“joyful, merry”).

How popular is the name Festus in 2025?

Festus did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Festus?

371 babies have been named Festus in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Festus most popular?

Festus peaked in 1916, when 16 newborns received the name.

Is Festus a boy or girl name?

Festus is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Festus rising or falling?

Festus is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Festus?

Well-known people named Festus include Festus Ezeli (basketball player), Festus Mogae (politician), Festus (historian).

Names like Festus

Names that sound and feel close to Festus: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Festus with similar names → More names starting with F →