Barry vs Fergus
Barry and Ferguscompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Barry was ranked #358 and Fergus #421 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Fergus #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Fergus #434 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Fergus over time
Barry and Fergus appear together in 3 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Barry held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Fergus in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1966, Barry moved ahead of Fergus in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #77 and #70 the year before became #67 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Fergus were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Fergus #243 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #69 and #66 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #402 and #829.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Fergus in 2.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Fergus #66 in 1964.
The order changed in 1966: Barry moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #77 and #70; by 1966 that had become #67 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Fergus #829.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Fergus in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Fergus #243 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Fergus #434.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1997–2016
Barry held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Fergus in 1.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Fergus #199 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Barry #358, Fergus #421.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Barry | Fergus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barry and Fergus both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Fergus
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #66 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #66 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys