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    The first name Freeman

    A boy’s name.

    Pronounced /ˈfɹiː.mən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    * Proprialisation of freeman. From originating as a freeman (instead of a serf, indentured, or some other status) * free + man. A surname taken up by freed slaves.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Freeman last appeared in the official list in 2015, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2009, with 4 births (#3,744).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    10
    babies named Freeman, 1996–2025
    #4,747
    rank in 2015
    2009
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Freeman with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Freeman at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 26 boys born in the United States were named Freeman, the 4,072nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 229 were.

    0150300 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    10,996
    babies named Freeman since 1880
    #4,072
    rank in 2025
    1918
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Freemon

    Famous people named Freeman

    9 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
      British politician (1866-1941)
    • Samuel Freeman Miller
      American judge (1816-1890)
    • Freeman Wood
      American actor (1896-1956)
    • Freeman Gosden
      Actor, comedian (1899-1982)
    • Freeman Williams
      American basketball player (1956–2022)
    • James Freeman Gilbert
      American geophysicist (1931-2014)
    • Freeman Walker
      American politician (1780–1827)
    • Freeman Knowles
      American politician (1846-1910)
    • Burt Bacharach
      American pianist, composer, producer (1928–2023)

    Questions

    What does the name Freeman mean?
    * Proprialisation of freeman. From originating as a freeman (instead of a serf, indentured, or some other status) * free + man. A surname taken up by freed slaves.
    How popular is the name Freeman?
    In 2015, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Freeman, ranking 4,747th. Its peak was 2009, with 4 births.
    Is Freeman a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 10,996 US babies named Freeman since 1880 were boys.
    When was Freeman most popular?
    1918 in the United States, when 229 babies were named Freeman, its highest rank at 393rd.
    How do you pronounce Freeman?
    Freeman is /ˈfɹiː.mən/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Freeman?
    Freemon.
    Is Freeman also a surname?
    Yes. Freeman is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.