Irish boy name
Fergal Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Fergal means man of valour. Anglicised form of Fearghal, from fear, 'man', and gal, 'valour'
Fergal is the anglicised form of Fearghal, a name meaning man of valour. It has been in use since the early medieval period and was borne by Fergal mac Máele Dúin, a king of Ireland who died in 722. It also gave rise to the surname Farrell. Today it is well known through the singer Fergal Sharkey and the journalist Fergal Keane. The name has a firm, friendly sound and is common in Ireland, though less so overseas. Fergal suits families wanting a straightforward Irish name with a heroic meaning and a long record in the annals.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Fergal
FearghalFarrellFeargalFergall
Well-known people named Fergal
Fergal Sharkey, Fergal Keane.
Fergal popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2023 Fergal ranked #625 in Ireland (4 babies). It is too rare to appear in US rankings.
Ireland (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Fergal mean?
Fergal means "man of valour". Anglicised form of Fearghal, from fear, 'man', and gal, 'valour'.
How do you pronounce Fergal?
Fergal is pronounced FUR-gul.
What is the origin of Fergal?
Fergal is of Irish origin. Anglicised form of Fearghal, from fear, 'man', and gal, 'valour'.