Fun Facts About the Name Farrel
- 869 babies named Farrel: U.S. records list 869 babies given the name Farrel from 1880 through 2025. Even 38 girls received the name Farrel - about 1 girl for every 22 boys.
What Does the Name Farrel Mean?
Farrel is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fearghail, which means "descendant of Fearghal"; the language of origin is Irish (Gaelic). The personal name at the root of the surname, Old Irish Fearghal, is built from two elements: fer, "man," and gal, "valor" or "fury." Taken together, Fearghal is usually translated "man of valor" or "valiant warrior."
Because the Ó prefix marks a family name, the literal sense of Ó Fearghail is "descendant of Fearghal," a patronymic rather than a description of the bearer. Farrel is one of several anglicized spellings of this same Irish name; Farrell is the most common, and the form O'Farrell is also used. The modern Irish personal name Fergal is a later spelling of Old Irish Fearghal. A similar-looking English surname, Ferrell, generally has a different derivation and should not be assumed to share this origin.
Farrel Name History & Origins
Fearghal was a common personal name in early Ireland. It was borne by Fearghal mac Máele Dúin, a high king of Ireland who died in 722, and by the Irish monk and bishop Fearghal, known on the Continent as Saint Virgil of Salzburg, who died in 784. The surname Ó Fearghail, "descendant of Fearghal," belonged to the Uí Fhearghail, a ruling family of Annaly in the Irish midlands, in the area of present-day County Longford. English-language records render the family name in several ways, including O'Farrell, Farrell, and Farrel.
Farrel as a first name is mainly a transferred use of that surname, following the broad practice of using family names as given names in English-speaking countries. The spelling without the final "l" appears alongside Farrell, and the two are not distinguished in meaning. In Ireland the personal name survived independently as Fergal, the modern Irish form of Fearghal, while Farrel and Farrell have been used as given names chiefly in the English-speaking world.
How Popular is the Name Farrel?
Farrel has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1937. Its best rank was #1,352 in 1937.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | #4,349 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #4,113 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,919 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #4,438 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #5,386 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1919 | #5,062 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1917 | #4,846 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | #11,446 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #4,844 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #5,822 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #6,586 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #2,955 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #5,886 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #3,650 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #4,697 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #3,026 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #3,139 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #2,462 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #3,466 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #3,074 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #2,847 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,342 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #3,753 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #3,428 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #2,725 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #2,172 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #2,249 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #1,999 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,296 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #1,960 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #1,580 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #1,848 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #1,990 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #1,678 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1951 | #1,690 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1950 | #1,670 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #2,502 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #2,146 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #2,017 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #1,658 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1945 | #1,959 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1944 | #1,702 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #1,939 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #1,822 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1941 | #2,028 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1940 | #2,956 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #1,907 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1938 | #1,849 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1937 | #1,352 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1936 | #1,908 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1935 | #1,865 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1934 | #1,630 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1933 | #1,789 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1932 | #1,604 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1931 | #1,960 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1930 | #2,001 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #1,884 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1928 | #1,856 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1927 | #2,335 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1926 | #2,115 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1925 | #3,234 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #2,713 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #2,376 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #2,277 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1921 | #3,063 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1920 | #3,044 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #2,302 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1917 | #3,697 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,626 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #1,622 | 19 | 0.0022% |
| 1914 | #3,028 | 6 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #2,347 | 7 | 0.0014% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with F
How the Name Farrel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Farrel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Farrel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.