Pronunciation
Fer-gul
Meaning
Man of valour
Related forms: Fearghal (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Fearghal; Farrell
Fun fact
Fergal is an anglicised spelling of Fearghal. Fearghal appears in the history of Irish families including the O'Neills, O'Rourkes and MacDonnells. Fergal is an anglicised spelling you're more likely to recognise. So it's the same name with a simpler spelling. Fear means man, and gal means valour or bravery. So the two words give you man of valour.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Fergal, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | 4 | #660 |
| 2022 | 4 | #657 |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | 3 | #741 |
| 2019 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2018 | 5 | #572 |
| 2017 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2016 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2015 | 4 | #615 |
| 2014 | 7 | #468 |
| 2013 | 5 | #534 |
| 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, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.