boy's name
Fletcher
FLECH-er (English)
- Origin English, French
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 22,730
the United States
#546
2025 births
Fletcher is a boy's name from an English occupational surname for a maker of arrows. It comes through Old French flechier from fleche, "arrow," and it's one of several craftsman surnames now popular as first names, used in the United States, England and Wales, Scotland and Canada.
- Fletcher is a name of English, French origin.
- Peaked in 2025, when 561 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 5,910 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Fletcher Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 285 |
| 1890s | 327 |
| 1900s | 375 |
| 1910s | 1,159 |
| 1920s | 1,456 |
| 1930s | 1,108 |
| 1940s | 1,072 |
| 1950s | 965 |
| 1960s | 745 |
| 1970s | 545 |
| 1980s | 709 |
| 1990s | 884 |
| 2000s | 1,711 |
| 2010s | 3,489 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,814 |
What Fletcher Means
Fletcher means an arrow maker, a highly skilled trade in medieval England. The name has an active, practical feel, and it matches modern names drawn from older crafts.
Where Fletcher Comes From
Old French fleche, arrow, was likely borrowed from a Germanic word. A flechier made arrows, and sometimes sold them, and Normans brought the word to England. Medieval armies relied on longbows, so the trade was important, and the surname became common. In Scotland the name can also stand for a Gaelic surname, Mac an Fhleisteir, which has the same meaning. The modern fashion for occupational names such as Archer and Cooper has made it stylish as a first name.
Fletcher in Use
Fletcher Christian led the mutiny on the Bounty, which has kept the name in popular memory. Chevy Chase's film Fletch gave it a comic nickname.
How Popular Is Fletcher?
In 2025, Fletcher was given to 561 babies in the United States, ranking #546 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Fletcher Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Fletcher
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Fletcher Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Fletcher over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Fletcher
- English FLECH-er
Sibling Names for Fletcher
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Fletcher — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Fletcher
What does the name Fletcher mean?
A maker of arrows, from Old French flechier.
Is Fletcher a popular boy's name?
It's well used in the United States, England and Wales, Scotland and Canada.
What is a nickname for Fletcher?
Fletch.
How many syllables are in Fletcher?
Fletcher has 2 syllables.
Is Fletcher a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Fletcher currently ranks #260 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.