Fenn

♂ Boy

Pronounced FEN /ˈfɛn/High

Meaning: Fenn is an English surname from Old English fenn, 'marsh, fen' — a topographic name for someone living by low, wet ground, as in the great Fens of eastern England. Its use as a short, punchy first name is modern. It also serves as a short form of Fenton and Fennec-style names.Medium

In 30 seconds: English for 'marsh' — a surname for someone who lived by a fen (said 'FEN'). Short, sharp and natural.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningFenn is an English surname from Old English fenn, 'marsh, fen' — a topographic name for someone living by low, wet ground, as in the great Fens of eastern England. Its use as a short, punchy first name is modern. It also serves as a short form of Fenton and Fennec-style names.

U.S. rank (2023)#10067 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2012

Total births (all-time)≈ 53

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Fenn comes from Old English fenn, 'marsh' — a topographic surname for someone living beside low, wet land, and a familiar name in the Fen country of eastern England. Its use as a given name is modern, part of the taste for short, clipped surname-names, and it also works as a short form of Fenton (said 'FEN').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare, short, and rooted in landscape.

Did you know? The Fens of eastern England gave the surname Fenn to anyone who lived on that flat, watery ground. Used today as a first name, it is one of the shortest nature names going, which we note plainly (said 'FEN').

Overall data confidence 65%

References — Fenn — Old English fenn 'marsh'; topographic surname

Variations

FenFentonVenn

Nicknames

FennyFenF

Famous Bearers

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If you like Fenn…

Fenton— the longer surname Fenn can shorten from

Finn— a like one-beat F name in sound

Flynn— a like short surname-name

Rhett— a like punchy single-syllable pick

Explore names like Fenn

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Fenn mean?

Fenn is an English surname from Old English fenn, 'marsh' — a name for someone who lived by low, wet ground.

How do you pronounce Fenn?

It's said FEN /ˈfɛn/ — one syllable.

Is Fenn a boy or girl name?

Fenn is used here as a boy's name; it is occasionally given to girls too.

How popular is Fenn?

Fenn is a rare name for boys in the U.S.