Daniel vs Fergal
Daniel and Fergalcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Daniel was ranked #10 and Fergal #660 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Daniel was ranked #14 and Fergal #334 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Fergal #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Daniel and Fergal over time
Daniel and Fergal appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fergal in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Fergal reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Daniel in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Fergal were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #10 and #660.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2023
Daniel held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Fergal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Fergal #46 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Daniel #10, Fergal #660.
England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Fergal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Fergal #1130 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Fergal #4270.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2020
Daniel held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Fergal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Fergal #151 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Daniel #14, Fergal #334.
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 | Daniel | Fergal |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'God is my judge', referencing the biblical prophet Daniel. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdænjəl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4270 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Fergal does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel and Fergal both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Fergal doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Daniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #280 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1954–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Fergal
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 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 recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1970 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys