Fergal
Say it: FUR-gal
BoyIrishMeans man of valour6 letters2 syllables
Unranked
in 2025
0
babies in 2025
#46
best rank (1970)
2,972
babies since 1964
Fergal through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | #626 |
| 2022 | 4 | #634 |
| 2020 | 3 | #706 |
| 2018 | 5 | #543 |
| 2015 | 4 | #615 |
| 2014 | 7 | #468 |
| 2013 | 5 | #535 |
| 2012 | 14 | #310 |
| 2011 | 8 | #435 |
| 2010 | 7 | #448 |
| 2009 | 12 | #322 |
| 2008 | 15 | #287 |
| 2007 | 9 | #342 |
| 2006 | 13 | #257 |
| 2005 | 10 | #268 |
| 2004 | 22 | #171 |
| 2003 | 15 | #200 |
| 2002 | 16 | #193 |
| 2001 | 23 | #150 |
| 2000 | 22 | #155 |
| 1999 | 18 | #167 |
| 1998 | 26 | #133 |
| 1997 | 24 | #149 |
| 1996 | 23 | #153 |
| 1995 | 38 | #122 |
| 1994 | 39 | #115 |
| 1993 | 34 | #124 |
| 1992 | 43 | #115 |
| 1991 | 44 | #111 |
| 1990 | 50 | #104 |
| 1989 | 35 | #122 |
| 1988 | 55 | #95 |
| 1987 | 63 | #92 |
| 1986 | 53 | #102 |
| 1985 | 62 | #92 |
| 1984 | 59 | #94 |
| 1983 | 74 | #83 |
| 1982 | 84 | #82 |
| 1981 | 82 | #83 |
| 1980 | 85 | #81 |
| 1979 | 91 | #83 |
| 1978 | 104 | #75 |
| 1977 | 122 | #70 |
| 1976 | 146 | #63 |
| 1975 | 147 | #59 |
| 1974 | 168 | #58 |
| 1973 | 153 | #60 |
| 1972 | 170 | #53 |
| 1971 | 139 | #59 |
| 1970 | 153 | #46 |
| 1969 | 103 | #65 |
| 1968 | 82 | #70 |
| 1967 | 49 | #88 |
| 1966 | 55 | #85 |
| 1965 | 46 | #87 |
| 1964 | 35 | #93 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Fergal mean?
Man of valour
Irish Fearghal, from Old Irish fer (man) and gal (valour).
Say it right
FURgal
Fearghal and Feargal are the Irish spellings.
Not:FAIR-gal
The story of Fergal
Fergal is an English spelling of the Irish Fearghal, which goes back to the Old Irish Fergal. It joins fer, man, and gal, valour, so it means “man of valour”. The surname Farrell comes from the same name. Fearghal and Feargal are the Irish spellings, and the CSO counts them separately.
Fergal was at its most popular in the early 1970s. It reached number 46 in 1970, and had the most babies in 1972, with 170 boys. It then fell steadily, and in recent years only a handful of boys, or none at all, have been registered as Fergal each year.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Fergal (Old Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Fergal
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Fergal | under 3 | 2,972 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #151 (2001); 89 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.