Fergus vs Oliver
Fergus and Olivercompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fergus was ranked #434 and Oliver #3 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Fergus was ranked #104 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Fergus was ranked #348 and Oliver #8 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Fergus was ranked #829 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Fergus and Oliver over time
Fergus and Oliver appear together in 3 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fergus 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.
Fergus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Oliver 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 1993, Oliver moved ahead of Fergus in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #150 and #180 the year before became #176 and #130.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fergus and Oliver changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #829 and #18.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Fergus fell — from #243 and #23 in 1996 to #434 and #3 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Fergus and Oliver were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #829 and #18.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #66 and #68 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #18.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2025
Fergus held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Oliver in 43.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #66 in 1964, Oliver #14 in 1975.
The order changed in 1993: Oliver moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #150 and #180; by 1993 that had become #176 and #130.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fergus #829, Oliver #18.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fergus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 29.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #243 in 1996, Oliver #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fergus #434, Oliver #3.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2023
Fergus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 18.
Highest recorded here: Fergus #199 in 1999, Oliver #3 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Fergus #348, Oliver #8.
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 | Oliver |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old French |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɒlɪvər/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ollie, Olivier, Oliviero |
| 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) | United Kingdom #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Oliver has a recorded origin (Old French); Fergus does not have one recorded yet.
- Fergus has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Oliver.
- A meaning is recorded for Oliver; 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
Oliver
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #478 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys