At a Glance
- Meaning
- The royal fern genus, prized for its tall, elegant fronds
- Origin
- Old French (osmonde), from Medieval Latin
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- oz-MUN-duh
Osmunda is an Old French (osmonde), from Medieval Latin girl's name meaning “The royal fern genus, prized for its tall, elegant fronds”. It appears in our list of 200+ Botanical Baby Names for Nature-Loving Parents.
Meaning & Origin of Osmunda
Meaning: The royal fern genus, prized for its tall, elegant fronds.
Origin: Old French (osmonde), from Medieval Latin.
A common claim: Osmunda is said to be named after a man called Osmund who hid his family in the ferns during a Viking raid, giving it the meaning 'divine protection' Actually: This is a well-loved legend, not a documented origin — the plant name comes through Old French 'osmonde' from Medieval Latin, and its link to the personal name Osmund is unconfirmed.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Osmunda
oz-MUN-duhIPA /ɒzˈmʌndə/
Popularity of Osmunda
Osmunda doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Osmunda
Similar Names
Breck · Moss · Bracken · Lichen · Fern · Reed
