Fergus vs Frank
Fergus and Frankcompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Fergus was ranked #104 and Frank #478 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fergus was ranked #434 and Frank #194 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Fergus was ranked #829 and Frank #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Fergus was ranked #348 and Frank #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Fergus and Frank over time
Fergus and Frank appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Frank held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Fergus in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Fergus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Frank 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2001, Frank moved ahead of Fergus in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #188 and #206 the year before became #273 and #165.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fergus and Frank changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2003 and 2023, ending at #348 and #348.
- Longest-running competitions
Fergus and Frank were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #829 and #286.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Fergus #66 in 1964, Frank #139 in 1966.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2025
Fergus held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Frank in 22.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #66 in 1964, Frank #139 in 1966.
The order changed in 2001: Frank moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #188 and #206; by 2001 that had become #273 and #165.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fergus #829, Frank #286.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fergus held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Frank in 26.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #243 in 1996, Frank #155 in 2018.
The order changed in 2002: Frank moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #279 and #290; by 2002 that had become #309 and #287.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fergus #434, Frank #194.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 2003–2023
Fergus held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Frank in 7.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #229 in 2003, Frank #223 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Fergus #348, Frank #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.
Side by side
| Field | Fergus | Frank |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fergus has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Frank.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
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
Frank
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #61 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Norway, in 1968 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #459 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys