Reviewing the Irish Central Statistics Office information on the most popular baby names in Ireland, it is amazing to see how certain names have topped the tables for many years.
In 2023 the ten most popular girls’ names were Grace (in Irish, Gráinne), Fiadh, Emily (Eimíle), Sophie (Sadhbh), Lily (Líle), Ellie (Eilís), Mia (Miach), Amelia (Eimíle), Éabha and Ella (Éile). In 2022 the top ten were Emily, Grace, Fiadh, Sophie, Lily, Éabha, Ava (Eábha), Mia, Ellie and Olivia (Oilibhia). So, the top four names (Grace, Fiadh, Emily and Sophie) have just shuffled position, as they have every year since 2019. In fact, many of the names in the top ten have been among the most popular in Ireland for more than twenty years now. Comparing the other top girls’ names in 2023 and 2022, some Irish names have pushed up into the top fifty, including Ailbhe and Méabh.
Looking at the boys’ names in 2023, the top ten were: Jack (in Irish, Seán), Noah (Nóe), James (Séamus), Rían, Oisín, Fionn, Tadhg, Liam (Uilliam), Cillian and Daniel (Dónal). In 2022 the top four were identical to 2023, followed by Charlie (Cathal), Oisín, Tadhg, Liam, Cillian and Daniel. Hence, Charlie was shifted down in 2023, while Fionn was shifted up. Jack has been the most popular newborn boys’ name in Ireland continuously since 2017, and since 1998 it has at least been in the top three!
Moving to the UK data for 2023, there seems to be a lot of overlap with the more popular names in Ireland. For baby girls, the ten most popular names were: Olivia, Amelia, Isla (in Irish, Ísle), Ava, Ivy (Eidhneán), Freya (Fraoch), Lily, Florence (Bláthnaid), Mia and Willow (Liamín). For the boys, the top ten were: Noah, Oliver (Oilibhéar), George (Seoirse), Arthur (Artúr), Muhammad, Leo (León), Harry (Éinrí), Oscar, Archie (Giolla Easpuig) and Henry (Éinrí).
For the USA in 2023 there were great similarities with Ireland and the UK. For the girls the top ten names were: Olivia, Emma (Éama in Irish), Amelia, Sophia (Sadhbh), Charlotte (Séarlait), Ava, Isabella (Isibéal), Mia, Luna (Lúna) and Evelyn (Eibhlín). For the boys the top ten were: Noah, Liam, Oliver, Elijah (Éilias or Oillil), Mateo (Maitiú), Lucas (Lúcás), Levi (Labhaí), Leo, Ezra and Luca.
Derdriu Store offers a wide range of personalized gifts and clothing for babies, children and adults, with names translated into the Irish language. Hundreds of names are already available, and other names can be added to products on request by contacting us: derdriustore@gmail.com