THE most popular baby names in Ireland for 2024 have been revealed – with a new favourite moniker for girls.
For boys, Jack has held the top spot for 17 years, with a brief one year break in 2016, when James pipped it to the post.
And for girls, Sophie was the big winner last year.
It rose to the no 1 spot for 2024, climbing from fourth place in 2023.
Prior to 2024, Grace was the most popular girls name in 2023 and the second most popular girls’ name in 2022 and 2021.
Emily had been the most popular girls’ name for 2022 and from 2011 to 2019.
Éabha holds 2nd place for 2024 having been ranked in 8th position in 2023.
Statistician in the Vital Statistics Section of the CSO, Seán O’Connor, said: “Jack has retained the top spot as the most popular baby boys’ name in 2024.
“This is a position it has held for every year since 2007, with the exception of 2016, when James was the most popular choice of name. Jack and James have been in the top five boys’ names since 1998.
“Noah and Rían are the other two boys’ names which make up the top three in 2024.
Sophie occupied the number one position as most popular girls’ name in Ireland for the first time since 2010. Éabha, Grace, Emily, and Fiadh were the other four girls’ names which made up the top five in 2024.
‘MORE VARIETY’
Statistician in the Vital Statistics Section of the CSO, Seán O’Connor said: “Jack has retained the top spot as the most popular baby boys’ name in 2024.
“This is a position it has held for every year since 2007, with the exception of 2016, when James was the most popular choice of name.
“Jack and James have been in the top five boys’ names since 1998. Noah and Rían are the other two boys’ names which make up the top three in 2024.
“Sophie occupied the number one position as most popular girls’ name in Ireland for the first time since 2010.
“Éabha, Grace, Emily, and Fiadh were the other four girls’ names which made up the top five in 2024.
“Sophie occupied the number one position as most popular girls’ name in Ireland for the first time since 2010. Éabha, Grace, Emily, and Fiadh were the other four girls’ names which made up the top five in 2024.
“While Jack has been the most popular name for baby boys in Ireland for eight years in a row, there is more variety when it comes to the top spot for girls.
“In 2024 Sophie was the most popular name for girls, while in 2023 it was Grace and in 2022 it was Emily. Grace, Emily, and Sophie have been permanent fixtures in the top five names for baby girls every year since 2016, with Éabha entering the top five for the first time in 2021 and ranking in second place in 2024.”
There were three new entrants to the top 100 for boys: Rowan, Caleb, and Iarlaith.
Caleb was the name that rose most in popularity, jumping from 142nd place to 91st between 2023 and 2024.
There were four new entrants to the top 100 for girls: Hallie, Rhea, Caragh, and Aurora. Rhea has grown most in popularity, rising from 130th place in 2023 to 93rd in 2024, a jump of 37 places in rank.
SECOND NAMES
Since Irish Babies’ Names 2023, the CSO has expanded its surname analysis to provide a further breakdown of the most common surnames associated with babies born, in 2024.
Murphy, Kelly, Byrne, O’Brien, and Walsh, were the most common surnames for 2024 births. Of the 54,060 live births in 2024, 20,812 had unique surnames.
The top 10 surnames accounted for 6.5% (or 3,524) of the 54,060 live births in 2024.
The top three surnames for babies were Murphy at 582 (1.1%), Kelly at 443 (0.8%), and Byrne at 383 (0.7%).
NAMES BY REGION & NATIONALITY
JACK was the top or joint top boys’ name in 11 locations around the country including Kildare, Kilkenny, and Clare.
While Páidí was ranked 22nd nationally in 2024 with a total of 201 births registered, it was the most favoured name for boys born in Sligo and Monaghan.
Sophie was the top or joint top girls’ name in seven areas such as Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Wexford, and Limerick City. Fiadh was also the top or joint top choice in seven areas including Longford, Kerry, and Donegal, while Clara, ranked 65th nationally, was most popular in Galway City.
The most popular names for boys and girls born to parents from the EU27 were David and Sofia, while Jack and Éabha were the most popular names for baby boys and girls whose parents’ nationalities were both Irish.
Muhammad was the most popular boys’ name for parents of nationalities outside the EU, excluding the UK and Ireland, while it was Hazel for girls.
