Darren vs Ferdia
Darren and Ferdiacompared 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 2025, Darren was ranked #676 and Ferdia #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #1108 and Ferdia #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Darren and Ferdia over time
Darren and Ferdia appear together in 1 published list, across 39 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Ferdia in 0.
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.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Ferdia in none. 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
Darren and Ferdia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 39 years, from 1984 to 2025, ending at #676 and #348.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1984–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Ferdia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Darren #18 in 1988, Ferdia #205 in 1993.
The order changed in 2025: Ferdia moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #287 and #472; by 2025 that had become #676 and #348.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #676, Ferdia #348.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Darren
Pairs where Darren shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Darren vs Ronan
In 1997 they stood at #52 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #25.
Darren · Ronan · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #53 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #33 and #404.
Rory · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #38 and #404.
Alexander · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #42 and #404.
Liam · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Darren | Ferdia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ | 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, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| 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
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Ferdia does not have one recorded yet.
- Darren and Ferdia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Ferdia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1066 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Ferdia
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #318 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1984–2025
Highest recorded position: #205 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1984–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys