Fergus vs Ian
Fergus and Iancompared 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 Ian #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Fergus was ranked #829 and Ian #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Fergus was ranked #348 and Ian #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fergus was ranked #434 and Ian #535 among boys in England and Wales.
Fergus and Ian over time
Fergus and Ian appear together in 3 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Ian 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.
Fergus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Ian 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fergus and Ian changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #434 and #535.
- Longest-running competitions
Fergus and Ian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #829 and #262.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Fergus #243 in 1996, Ian #138 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #66 and #62 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #262.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2025
Fergus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ian in 56.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #66 in 1964, Ian #24 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fergus #829, Ian #262.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fergus held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ian in 13.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #243 in 1996, Ian #138 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Fergus moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #577 and #551; by 2022 that had become #480 and #600.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fergus #434, Ian #535.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1997–2023
Fergus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ian in 9.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #199 in 1999, Ian #118 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Fergus #348, Ian #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 | Ian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Iain, itself from Latin Iohannes — ultimately from the same Hebrew root as John. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈiː.ən/ |
| 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 #262 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ian has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission); Fergus does not have one recorded yet.
- Fergus has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ian.
- A meaning is recorded for Ian; Fergus doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Ian
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #351 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1989
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #263 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys