Revealed: The most popular baby names in Ireland are ...

The Central Statistics Office has revealed the most popular baby names in Ireland in 2012 – and the results may not surprise you if you've been keeping an eye on the list over the past few years.

Jack and Emily were the most popular newborn names registered last year with 2.2% of all baby boys and 1.6% of all baby girls being given these names. The top of both the boys and girls' lists remain unchanged since last year, with Jack holding onto the top spot since 2007 and Emily, 2011.

In fact, the top five boys’ names in 2012 (Jack, James, Daniel, Sean and Conor) were also the top five each year since 2007 with only their order changing from year to year.

While, the top five girls’ names in 2012 (Emily, Sophie, Emma, Grace and Lily) hold exactly the same positions they held in 2011. Emily, the most popular girls’ name has been in the top five names in four of the last five years.

New names

There were three first time entries to the top 100 for boys: Isaac, Danny and Logan. The highest new entry at number 85 was Isaac which rose from 101st place in 2011. The name rising most in popularity in the year was Danny (up 22 places from 114th place in 2011).

There were five first time entries to the top 100 for girls: Evie, Amelie, Hanna, Maisie and Rose. The highest new entry and the name that climbed most places since 2011 was Evie; it rose 40 places from 124th place in 2011 to 84th place in 2012.

Geographical differences

In most areas of the country one of the top five boys’ names took the number one spot. Only two areas favoured names outside the top five; in Longford the top spot was shared by Adam, David, Michael and Rian while in Monaghan, the highest ranked name was Ryan.

For girls, there was a wider range of names outside the top five that were county and city favourites. These included Amelia, Aoife, Lucy, Sarah, Saoirse, Mia, Ella, Chloe and Lauren.

Is your name on the list? Take a look below (you may have to zoom in):

Images: CSO

Categories: Ireland, Babies, Names