Irish Babies’ Names 2009
The CSO today released the Vital Statistics, Irish Babies’ Names 2009 report.
Some of the key points highlighted in the report are as follows:
- Jack and Sophie were the most popular babies’ names registered in 2009. Jack retains the top position it held in 2007 and 2008 while this is the first time Sophie has taken the number one spot, climbing from sixth in 2008.
- Of the 38,082 boys born in 2009, 1,061 (2.8%) were named Jack, 134 more than the number of boys named Sean, the second most popular name. Of the 36,196 girls born, there were 635 (1.8%) named Sophie, but this was only 5 more than the number of girls named Ava, the second most popular girls’ name.
- The top five boys’ names in 2009 (Jack, Sean, Daniel, Conor and James) also made up the top five in 2007 and 2008. Four of the top five boys’ names (Jack, Sean, Conor and James) have been in the top five since 1998, with only their order changing from year to year.
- There has been more variation in the girls’ top five. While Emma and Sarah have been in the top five since 1998, this is the first time Grace has appeared in the top five. Ava entered the top 5 in 2008 and Sophie has been in the top five twice since 1998 – in 2006 and 2007.
- There were three first time entries to the top 100 for boys: Bobby, Shay and Szymon. The highest new entry at number 85 was Bobby, which rose from 109th place in 2008. The names rising most in popularity in the year were Szymon (up 30 places to 99th) and Lucas (up 25 places to 79th).
- There were six first time entries to the top 100 for girls: Daisy, Emilia, Layla, Madison, Oliwia and Hollie. The highest new entry at number 74 was Layla climbing from 106th place in 2008. The names climbing most places in the year were Daisy (up 61 places to 97th) and Hollie (up 48 places to 95th).
- While the top five names for boys and girls were most popular within a number of different areas, additional names were also county and city favourites. For boys, Ryan was the most popular name in Louth and Sligo. Ryan and Jack were the most popular names in Monaghan while in Galway City Oisin shared the number one place with Jack and Sean.
- For girls, Chloe which was the 10th most popular name overall, ranked first in Cavan. Aoife was the most popular name in Donegal and Lucy the most popular in North Tipperary. Rachel and Emily got pride of place in Longford and Hannah and Emma in Carlow. Katie ranked first in Offaly, Mayo, Sligo and Monaghan.
For more information contact:
Sandra Tobin 021 453 5307 or Paula Scully 021 453 5792.
Central Statistics Office
29 June 2010
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