Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Ferrell
BoyIrish· “surname, man of valor”
- Meaning
- surname, man of valor
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- FEH-ruhl
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #917 (1935)
- Peak year
- 1935
Meaning and origin of Ferrell
Ferrell is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “surname, man of valor”.
Ferrell is an Irish surname from Ó Fearghail, meaning descendant of Fearghal, a personal name formed from fear, man, and gal, valor. The same root gives Farrell and O'Farrell, and the family was historically prominent in County Longford. As a first name, Ferrell appears mostly in the United States, where surnames were often used as given names in the South. It is said FEH-ruhl, with the stress on the first syllable. Ferris is a similar sounding name with a different origin. Ferrell has a brave meaning and a clearly Irish background.
Other spellings with the same sound: Farrell.
Popularity over time
Ferrell first appears in US Social Security records in 1897. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 4 different years, starting in 1934. Its best national rank was #917 in 1935, the same year it reached its highest count of 48 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #1,337 in 1920, #1,965 in 1950, and #4,638 in 1980. Of the 1,911 US boys named Ferrell since records began, 19% were born in the 1930s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 331 babies. Since 2010, 27 more have been named Ferrell.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Arland, Delwin, Marland, Glyn, and Doyce.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Ferrell is usually pronounced FEH-ruhl, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with F and ends in “-ll”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Farrell.
Middle names for Ferrell
A few middle names that flow with Ferrell: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ferrell
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Lists that include Ferrell
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ferrell mean?
Ferrell is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “surname, man of valor”.
What is the origin of the name Ferrell?
Ferrell has Irish roots. Ferrell is an Irish surname from Ó Fearghail, meaning descendant of Fearghal, a personal name formed from fear, man, and gal, valor.
Is Ferrell a popular name?
No. Ferrell was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Ferrell a boy or girl name?
Ferrell is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Ferrell?
Ferrell is usually pronounced FEH-ruhl. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings