Variant of Farnham, from Old English 'fearn' (fern) and 'ham' (homestead), meaning 'fern meadow estate.'
Farnum is a variant of Farnham, built from Old English elements meaning fern and homestead, which gives it a grounded, place-based identity. The image behind it is vivid: a settled estate in a fern-filled landscape, the sort of name that remembers the English countryside in its older, more agricultural form. Because it descends from a surname and place-name tradition, Farnum carries the familiar solidity of English locational names.
It feels old without being ornate, practical without being plain. As a given name, Farnum is highly uncommon, and that rarity makes it feel especially deliberate. It has a strong, somewhat aristocratic sound, though the botanical root keeps it from becoming stiff.
Names with “ham” origins often suggest habitation, belonging, and continuity, while the fern element adds softness and natural imagery. Farnum therefore sits between landscape and lineage. It feels like a name for someone with roots, but also with a quietly unusual sense of style.