Fergus is an ancient Irish name that has been passed down through generations, originating from the Old Irish word 'Fearghuis', which means 'man of strength' or 'vigorous'. This name gained popularity in Ireland during the Middle Ages and was often borne by several early Irish saints. It is composed of two elements: 'fer' meaning 'man', and 'gus' meaning 'vigor'.
The name Fergus has been popularized worldwide, partly due to literary figures such as Fingal, a mythical hero and poet-king in James Macpherson's 18th-century epic poem "Ossian". Additionally, it was used by Sir Walter Scott in his novel "Ivanhoe", where one of the characters is named Fergus.
In Scotland, Fergus is also associated with the historical figure Fergus II, a king who reigned over the kingdom of Dál Riata during the 6th century. This kingdom spanned modern-day Argyll and Bute in Scotland and County Antrim in Northern Ireland. His name has since been connected to various Scottish locations, such as Loch Fyne (Locha Feichín) and Kilmodan, a village named after him.
Today, Fergus continues to be used as a given name for boys, particularly in English-speaking countries. It offers parents an opportunity to bestow their child with a strong, historical, and culturally significant name rooted in Irish tradition.
The name Fergus experienced a significant resurgence in popularity from the late 1990s onwards, with a notable spike in births occurring annually since then. Between 1997 and 2023, there were at least 8 births per year, reaching a peak of 23 in 2023. This contrasts with earlier decades where the name's popularity was more erratic and significantly lower, with no more than 8 births in any given year between 1916 and 1996. The total number of Fergus births from 1916 to 2023 is 519.