Boy name · Irish Gaelic
Fergus
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: man of vigorFergus is a boy's name that comes from Irish Gaelic and means "man of vigor". It is used in Irish, Scottish and English.
- Meaning
- Man of vigor
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- FUR-gus (Irish)
Meaning and origin of Fergus
As a boy's name, Fergus comes from Irish Gaelic and means "man of vigor". It is used in Irish, Scottish and English.
In Irish, say FUR-gus. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Fergus on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Fergus on 8 lists.
“Man of vigor; Irish Gaelic. A legendary Irish king”
From Classic boy names, classic Irish, Scottish and Welsh boy names
“From Gaelic, often explained as man of vigor”
From Highland cattle names, scottish bull names for boys
“English spelling of Fearghus, man of vigor. Say FUR-gus.”
From Irish boy names, irish boys' names in English spelling
“Man of vigor; Irish. Common in early Irish and Scottish royal lines”
From Medieval names and surnames, medieval Welsh, Irish and Scottish names
“Man of vigor; Irish Gaelic. Say FUR-gus”
From Names that mean strong, boy names that mean strong
“Irish for man of vigor”
From Orange cat names, orange cat names for boys
“English spelling of Fearghas: man of vigor. Say FUR-gus.”
From Scottish boy names, highland names in English spelling
“Man of vigor; Irish Gaelic, a legendary hero of Ulster”
From Strong boy names, male names that mean strong
How popular is Fergus?
- US rank in 2025
- #5,092
- 19 babies, 11 per million boys
- Best rank
- #2,760 in 1918
- Most babies: 24 in 2024
- Babies since 1916
- At least 568
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 3 per million |
| 1920s | 2 per million |
| 1930s | 1 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 1 per million |
| 1960s | 2 per million |
| 1970s | 2 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 3 per million |
| 2000s | 5 per million |
| 2010s | 8 per million |
| 2020s | 11 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,837 | #5,357 | #5,611 | #5,906 | #6,405 | #4,534 | #6,954 | #4,504 | #4,354 | #5,092 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Fergus
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- FearghusMan of vigor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Names spelled like Fergus
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- FergalMan of valor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Fergus
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Irish Gaelic
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinnFair, white (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KevinGentle birth (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidanLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidenLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BarryFair-haired (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Fergus: common questions
What does the name Fergus mean?
Fergus comes from Irish Gaelic and means "man of vigor".
Is Fergus a boy or girl name?
Fergus is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Fergus come from?
Fergus comes from Irish Gaelic and means "man of vigor". Today it is used in Irish, Scottish and English.
How do you pronounce Fergus?
In Irish, say FUR-gus. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Fergus?
Fergus ranked #5,092 in the US in 2025, with 19 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Fergus?
Forms of Fergus with the same meaning and origin include Fearghus (Irish).
What middle names go with Fergus?
Middle names that flow well with Fergus include Basil, Beau, Clark, Eli and Heath. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.