Here's what the most popular baby names were in Ireland in 2023 (2024)

Here's what the most popular baby names were in Ireland in 2023 (1)

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A familiar entry claimed the top spot for boys, while there was a new number one for girls.

IRELAND’S MOST POPULAR baby names for 2023 have been revealed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

For the seventh year in a row, Jack is the most popular name for boys, while Grace has regained the crown as the most popular name for girls.

The top five names for boys were Jack, Noah, James, Rían and Oisín, with Fionn, Tadhg, Liam, Cillian and Daniel rounding out the top 10.

The top five names for girls were Grace, Fiadh, Emily, Sophie and Lily, with Ellie, Mia, Amelia, Éabha and Ella making up the rest of the top 10.

Jack has held the top spot for boys’ names for every year since 2007, except for 2016, when James was the most popular.

There is more variety when it comes to the top spot for girls, though. Grace last claimed the top spot in 2020, and replaces last year’s top choice of Emily.

Jack retains top spot as the most popular boys' name in Ireland in 2023 while it's Grace for girlshttps://t.co/PhwuTRgrdp#CSOIreland #Ireland #VitalStatistics #VitalStats #Births #Deaths #Marriages #IrishBabiesNames #BoysNames #GirlsNames #BabyNames pic.twitter.com/7aGfuuXoez

— Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) February 23, 2024

Compared to 50 years ago in 1973 when John and Mary were the most popular names, only James remains from the top 10 for either boys or girls. There were 152 babies called John in 2023, while 36 babies were called Mary.

As well as providing the names that top the charts, the CSO also looks at different trends including new entrants in the Top 100 and the ‘fastest rising’ names.

For girls, there are three new entrants into the top 100, they are: Lucia (85th), Cadhla (87th) and Síofra (1ooth), with Síofra rising up the rankings the fastest, going from 157th place in 2022 to 100th last year.

For boys, there are five new entrants into the top 100, they are: Caelan (50th), Jude (95th), Paddy (96th), Éanna (96th) and Dáithí (100th).

Caelan was the boys name rising most in popularity, jumping from 108th place to 50th between 2022 and 2023.

There is a wider variety in the names registered for girls, with 4,991 girls’ names in 2023 compared with 4,181 for boys.

Some of the less frequently used girls’ names registered last year and not included in the top 100 names were Bláithín, Lena, Tillie, Ceola, Líadan, Demi, Miroslava and Fíbí.

Some of the less popular boys’ names registered in 2023 were Idris, Ultán, Marcos, Kobie, Denzel and Ibraheem.

County-by-county

Here's what the most popular baby names were in Ireland in 2023 (2)

The CSO also provides a regional breakdown to show the variation of popular baby names across the country.

Jack was the most popular name for baby boys in all provinces in 2023.Noah was the second most favoured name for boys last year, and held the top spot in six locations including Sligo and Laois.

A number of counties picked names outside the top five. Tom was ranked 39th nationally but was most favoured in Roscommon, while Patrick was the most popular boys’ names in Longford yet ranked 19th on a national basis.

Here's what the most popular baby names were in Ireland in 2023 (3)

Grace was the most chosen girls’ name or joint-first in eleven areas, including Meath and Offaly. Fiadh was the second most popular name nationally, but was the top girls’ name in Connacht.

Fiadh also held the top or joint top name in four counties and shared first place with Sophie in Galway County.

Names outside the top five were chosen for girls in several counties. Ellie was the most or joint most popular girls’ name in five counties: Carlow, Louth, Cork City, Kerry and Waterford County, while ranking 6th nationally.

Annie was joint first choice in Donegal, with Grace, despite ranking 48th on a national basis.

The top 100 names for 2023 are available on the CSO’s website.

The CSO also offers a tool that showstrends of the most popular baby names each year since the 1960s, allowing people to search for a name and see how they have changed in popularity over the years.

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Here's what the most popular baby names were in Ireland in 2023 (4)

Here's what the most popular baby names were in Ireland in 2023 (2024)

FAQs

Here's what the most popular baby names were in Ireland in 2023? ›

Jack and James have been in the top five boys' names since 1998. Noah and James are the other two boys' names which make up the top three in 2023. Grace once again occupied the number one position as most popular girls' name in Ireland for the first time since 2020.

What is the most popular baby name in Ireland 2023? ›

The most popular name in 2023 for newborn boys in Ireland was Jack and for girls it was Grace. Jack has held the top spot since 2007, with the exception of 2016, when James was the most popular name.

What is the number 1 Irish name? ›

Jack is the most popular boys' name for the seventh year in a row, while Grace has taken the number one spot for girls' names. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed its top 100 baby names for 2023, with Jack followed by Noah, James, Rían and Oisín to make up the top five for boys' names.

What is the most common boys name in Ireland? ›

IRELAND'S MOST POPULAR baby names for 2023 have been revealed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). For the seventh year in a row, Jack is the most popular name for boys, while Grace has regained the crown as the most popular name for girls.

What is the prettiest Irish girl name? ›

Sorcha. Meaning “radiant, bright,” Sorcha might be the most beautiful Irish name for girls, though it originates from Scottish Gaelic. In Ireland, it's sometimes anglicized as Sarah, or as Clara in Scotland.

What is a strong male Irish name? ›

More Strong Irish Boy Names
NameMeaning
86.GarbhánLittle rough one
87.MuireadhachLord, master
88.ÓengusOne strength
89.RiacánKing
6 more rows
Oct 4, 2023

What are the Irish baby girl names 2023? ›

Fiadh, Emily, Sophie, and Lily were the other four girls' names which made up the five in 2023. While Jack has been the most popular name for baby boys in Ireland for seven years in a row, there is more variety when it comes to the top spot for girls.

What's a cool Irish name? ›

Many are very familiar to American ears: Finn, Liam, Riley, Aiden, Caitlin, Quinn, and more. Other Irish names, such as Niamh and Cormac, are less used in this country. But even more-obscure Irish names are on the rise – Maeve and Niall, for example. Many Irish names originate from place names.

What is the most Irish female name? ›

In the case of Irish baby boy names, there is often a popular "Irish name of the moment." But that's not the case for girls. In fact, the most popular girl name in Ireland, Fiadh, pronounced fia, is relatively unknown in the U.S.; names with Irish origins that are more common in the U.S. include Bridget and Maeve.

What is the most Irish name ever? ›

For example, Murphy, Byrne, and O'Brien are a few of the oldest and most common surnames in Ireland. Some may even say Murphy is the most Irish name ever, as it's currently the most common surname in the country. Many Irish family names have both anglicised and Gaelic equivalents.

What is the rarest Irish boy name? ›

The rarest Irish boy names
  • Turlough (used 5 times in 2023) – pronounced ter-lock – meaning 'abettor' or 'instigator'
  • Eamon (used 5 times in 2023) – pronounced ay-min – meaning 'wealthy protector'
  • Eolann (used 3 times in 2023) – pronounced oh-lin – meaning 'a kind of ornament'
Feb 27, 2024

What is a very Irish last name? ›

1. Murphy. Murphy is statistically the most popular Irish last name and it is particularly common in County Cork. It is a version of 'Ó Murchadha' and 'Ó Murchadh', two very old Irish surnames.

What is the most popular name in Dublin? ›

Most Popular Names in Ireland
  • 1Jack.
  • 1Grace.
  • 2Noah.
  • 2Fiadh.
  • 3James.
  • 3Emily.
  • 4Rían.
  • 4Sophie.
Feb 25, 2024

What are Irish ladies called? ›

Irish·​wom·​an ˈī-rish-ˌwu̇-mən. : a woman born in Ireland or of Irish descent.

What is the Irish version of Elizabeth? ›

Elizabeth – Equivalent Irish: Sibeal (pronounced “Sybil”) or Eibhlís (pronounced “aye-leesh). Eva – Equivalent Irish: Aoife (pronounced “eef-a”). Evelyn/Eileen – Equivalent Irish: Eibhlín (pronounced “aye-leen”).

What Irish name means love? ›

Baby names of Irish origin that mean love
  • Gráinne – 'love' or 'sun'
  • Croía – 'little heart'
  • Lennon – 'lover'
  • Conor – 'lover of hounds'
Jan 27, 2024

What is the most popular baby name in Ireland? ›

Most Popular Names in Ireland
  • 1Jack.
  • 1Grace.
  • 2Noah.
  • 2Fiadh.
  • 3James.
  • 3Emily.
  • 4Rían.
  • 4Sophie.
Feb 25, 2024

What is the most common last name in Ireland? ›

Murphy. The most common of all Irish names, the Murphy surname can be found in all four provinces. Murphys are primarily from Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Roscommon, Sligo, Tyrone, and Wexford, however.

Is Muhammad a popular name in Ireland? ›

But why is it so common? The most recent baby name statistics for babies born in Ireland revealed that Muhammad is the number one name for baby boys born in Galway City. This may come as a surprise at first but when you realise how popular the name is in other places around the world, it makes more sense.

What will be the most popular name in 2050? ›

The outcome was two compelling lists of naming predictions for both boys and girls. They showed that the top five boys' names for 2050 will likely be Albie, Barney, Clement, Cyprian and Elim. For girls, it seems destined that Cosima, Dot, Iceland, Maude and Mavi will all come out on top.

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