Irish Babies’ Names 2012

The CSO today released the Vital Statistics, Irish Babies’ Names 2012 report.

Some of the key points highlighted in the report are as follows:

• Jack and Emily were the most popular babies’ names registered in 2012. Jack retains the top position it held since 2007. Emily also retains the top position it held in 2011 coming from eighth place in 2007 and fifth place in 2008.

• Of the 37,210 boys born in 2012, 831 (2.2%) were named Jack, 58 more than the number of boys named James, the second most popular name. Of the 35,015 girls born, there were 626 (1.8%) named Emily, which was 49 more than the number of girls named Sophie, the second most popular girls’ name.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 84^th place in 2012.

• 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.

For more information contact Carol Anne Hennessy on 021 453 5307 or Marie Crowley on 021 453 5016.

To view and download the publication, visit the CSO website at:

Irish Babies' Names 2012   

Central Statistics Office                                                                         31 May 2013

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