Pronunciation
Fer-gus
Meaning
Man of vigour (traditional interpretation)
Related forms: Fearghus (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Fearghus
Fun fact
Fergus is an anglicised spelling of Fearghus. There were several early Irish saints called Fearghus, ten in the Martyrology of Donegal. Fergus is the anglicised spelling you'll probably recognise. So this is an old name, even if the spelling is new to you. Fear is the Irish word for man. The second part is an older name element connected with strength or vigour, giving the traditional man of vigour meaning.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Fergus, 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 | 3 | #829 |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | 4 | #660 |
| 2022 | 4 | #657 |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2019 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2018 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2017 | 4 | #610 |
| 2016 | 3 | #713 |
| 2015 | 4 | #615 |
| 2014 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2013 | 5 | #534 |
| 2012 | 5 | #548 |
| 2011 | 9 | #407 |
| 2010 | 14 | #301 |
| 2009 | 4 | #604 |
| 2008 | 4 | #601 |
| 2007 | 4 | #527 |
| 2006 | 4 | #493 |
| 2005 | 8 | #302 |
| 2004 | 7 | #322 |
| 2003 | 6 | #337 |
| 2002 | 3 | #451 |
| 2001 | 7 | #273 |
| 2000 | 13 | #188 |
| 1999 | 9 | #214 |
| 1998 | 10 | #203 |
| 1997 | 15 | #189 |
| 1996 | 11 | #208 |
| 1995 | 14 | #184 |
| 1994 | 12 | #184 |
| 1993 | 16 | #176 |
| 1992 | 25 | #150 |
| 1991 | 16 | #169 |
| 1990 | 20 | #160 |
| 1989 | 22 | #151 |
| 1988 | 21 | #148 |
| 1987 | 21 | #150 |
| 1986 | 26 | #141 |
| 1985 | 24 | #148 |
| 1984 | 33 | #123 |
| 1983 | 32 | #129 |
| 1982 | 56 | #103 |
| 1981 | 53 | #107 |
| 1980 | 48 | #112 |
| 1979 | 76 | #89 |
| 1978 | 61 | #103 |
| 1977 | 58 | #106 |
| 1976 | 65 | #99 |
| 1975 | 86 | #86 |
| 1974 | 82 | #88 |
| 1973 | 99 | #77 |
| 1972 | 77 | #89 |
| 1971 | 86 | #83 |
| 1970 | 73 | #86 |
| 1969 | 78 | #75 |
| 1968 | 72 | #72 |
| 1967 | 72 | #75 |
| 1966 | 73 | #71 |
| 1965 | 66 | #70 |
| 1964 | 71 | #66 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.