Irish Babies' Names 2021

Jack retains top spot for the boys while Fiadh claims first place for the girls in 2021

The most popular name in 2021 for newborn boys in Ireland was Jack and for girls it was Fiadh. Jack has held the top spot since 2007 with the exception of 2016 when James was the most popular name. This is the first time that Fiadh has taken the number one spot, climbing from second place in 2020 and third in 2019. Grace had been the most popular name for baby girls in 2020 with Emily being the most popular prior to this since 2011.

Jack, James and Conor have been in the top five boys' names since 1998. Daniel falls from 4^th place in 2020 to 8^th in 2021. Noah was new to the top five in 2018 and remains there in 2021, rising one place to 2^nd. Rían is a new entrant to the top five this year rising to 5^th in 2021 from 15^th in 2020.

This is the first year that Fiadh has been the most popular name chosen for girls. Fiadh was a new entrant to the top five names in 2019 and has risen from 2^nd place in 2020 to 1^st in 2021. Emily, formerly the top name for 9 consecutive years remains at 3^rd place. Sophie is the 4^th most popular name for the fourth year in a row while Ava drops from 5^th place in 2020 to 8^th in 2021. Éabha however, has jumped from 16^th place in 2020 to 5^th place this year. See table 2.1.

There were ten new entrants to the top 100 for boys: Teddy, Daithí, Páidí, Jaxon, Brody, Ted, Hunter, Tadgh, Tiernan and Arlo. Ted was also the name rising most in popularity, jumping from 139^th place to 90^th between 2020 and 2021. Similarly, Hunter moved up the ranks from 129^th place in 2020 to 91^st in 2021.  See tables 2.1 and 2.5. 

There were three new entrants to the top 100 for girls: Indie, Ayla and Lottie. Croía has grown most in popularity, rising from 95th place in 2020 to 52^nd in 2021. That’s a jump of 43 places in rank. Indie jumped in popularity from 106^th place in 2020 to 78^th place in 2021. See tables 2.1 and 2.5. 

There is a wider variety in the names registered for girls, with 4,741 girls' names in 2021 compared with 3,863 for boys. See table 2.2.

In most areas of the country one of the top five boys’ names took the number one spot. 

Jack was the most popular name for baby boys in all provinces in 2021. Noah was the second most favoured name for boys in 2021 and held the top or joint top spot in 4 locations including Limerick City and Dublin City. Some counties picked names outside the top five. Adam was ranked 22^nd nationally yet was most favoured in Cork City. While Michael held 11^th place nationally, it was the joint most popular choice for boys in Galway City along with Liam, which was ranked 6^th nationally. See table 2.8(a). 

Fiadh was the most chosen girls' name or joint first in nine areas including South Dublin. Grace was the second most popular name nationally but was the top girls' name in Munster. Grace also held the top or joint top name in thirteen counties and shared first place with Fiadh in Galway County. Names outside the top five were chosen for girls in several counties. Olivia was the joint top name in Cork City along with Grace yet nationally it was ranked 18^th. Sadie was joint first choice in Kildare along with Amelia and Emily, whilst also ranking 18^th nationally. Ellie, the 16^th most popular name in 2021 was the most chosen name in Westmeath. In Cavan, Annie was the most favoured.  See table 2.8(b). 

Some of the less frequently used girls' names registered in 2021 and not included in the top 100 names were Anastasia, Tessa, Daria, Órlaith, Roisin and Florrie.

Some of the less popular boys' names registered in 2021 were Roan, Santiago, Tiarnán, Kane, Felix and Orson

Jack was the most popular name where both parents were Irish nationals, while William was the most popular choices with parents of UK nationality. Where both parents were from the EU14 (excluding Ireland) Liam was the most favoured boys' name. Leon was the name chosen most often by parents from the EU15 to EU27. Muhammad was the highest ranked name of baby boys born where both parents were from outside the EU. See table 2.9.

Fiadh was the most popular girls' name where both parents were Irish nationals. Emma ranked first with parents from the EU14 (excluding Ireland) and Mia took the top spot with parents from the EU15 to EU27. Sarah was the main choice where both parents were from outside the EU. There was no singular popular name of 3+ occurrence for girls chosen by parents of UK nationality. See table 2.9.

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The top ten surnames of babies registered in 2021 is also included in this publication. Of the 58,442 live births in 2021, 19,701 had unique surnames. These unique surnames included some double-barrelled surnames, e.g. Byrne-Kelly. The top ten surnames accounted for 7.4% (or 4,319) of the 58,442 live births in 2021. The top three surnames for babies were Murphy at 714 (1.2%), Kelly at 551 (0.9%) and Ryan at 468 (0.8%). See table 2.10.

John and Mary the most popular names in 1971

In 1971, the most popular name for boys was John. Fifty years later, John ranked 28^th in popularity in 2021 for baby boys. See tables 2.1, 2.2, 2.11 and 2.12. 

The top five boys’ names in 1971 were John, Michael, Patrick, David and James. The only name in this top five which was still in the top five by 2021 was James. See table 2.1 and 2.11. 

Mary was the most popular girls' name in 1971. In 2021, Mary has slipped out of the top 100 for the first time and is ranked 127^th. None of the top 10 most popular names for girls in 2021 appeared in the top 100 girls' names in 1971. The first name to appear in both top 100’s was Anna who ranked 52^nd in 1971 and 21^st in 2021.  See tables 2.1, 2.2, 2.11 and 2.12.  

None of the top 10 most popular names for girls in 2021 appeared anywhere in the top 100 girls' names in 1971.

Oliver was the name chosen most often for baby boys in England and Wales in 2020, the most recent year for which data is available, while Olivia was the top name for girls. Parents in Northern Ireland in 2020 chose James as their most popular boys' name with Grace as the most popular girls' name. Scotland in 2020 shows Jack and Isla as the most popular names. See table 2.15.