Chai Brady
Bible names for boys have once again topped the list of the most popular baby names registered last year.
Jack (the diminutive of John) and James came first and second respectively in the list for both 2017 and 2018 according to CSO statistics. Out of the top 10 there were seven biblical names in total, with Noah coming third and Daniel fifth.
For two decades Jack has retained the top position, only knocked off by James once in 2016. It continues to be Ireland’s most popular.
Back in 1968, John, Patrick, Michael, James and David were the names most favoured by parents of new born baby boys.
Emily continues to hold the position for most-loved name for a girl since 2011, followed by Grace, Emma, Sophie, and Amelia in the top 5. Out of the top 25 girls names only one, Sarah, is biblical.
Not one of the top five names for girls 50 years ago appeared in the top 100 names last year. Mary, Catherine, Margaret, Ann and Anne were the most popular names for baby daughters in 1968, with 2,364 baby girls named Mary in that year.
New entrants into the top 100 names for boys included Frankie, Freddie and Theodore while Bella, Ada, Bonnie and Ivy entered the top 100 names for girls.
Over the years girls are given a wider variety of names than boys, with 4,779 girls names registered compared to 3,712 boys’.
