Irish classics
Names that have stayed near the top of the Irish charts for decades.
- Jack
Boy · JAK
An old pet form of John, and Ireland's top boys' name in most years since 2000.
475 babies in 2025 - James
Boy · JAYMZ
The English form of Jacob, name of two apostles, in Ireland's top ten every year on record.
359 babies in 2025 - Liam
Boy · LEE-um
The Irish short form of William, in Ireland's top ten every year since 2019.
313 babies in 2025 - Cillian
Boy · KILL-ee-un
An old Irish saint's name, carried to Germany by the missionary Kilian.
276 babies in 2025 - Grace
Girl · GRAYSS
A Puritan virtue name, long used in Ireland as the English form of Gráinne.
265 babies in 2025 - Emily
Girl · EM-il-ee
The English form of a Roman family name, Ireland's top girls' name from 2011 to 2019.
246 babies in 2025 - Sophie
Girl · SO-fee
The French form of Sophia, "wisdom", and Ireland's top girls' name in 2009 and 2010.
246 babies in 2025 - Seán
Boy · SHAWN
The Irish form of John, taken from Norman French, and a number one name in Ireland four times.
231 babies in 2025 - Daniel
Boy · DAN-yul
The biblical prophet's name, also used in Ireland as an English form of Dónall.
225 babies in 2025 - Conor
Boy · KON-ur
The name of Ulster's legendary king Conchobar, and Ireland's top boys' name in the late 1990s.
211 babies in 2025 - Thomas
Boy · TOM-us
The apostle's name, from the Aramaic for "twin", in Ireland's top 25 every year on record.
211 babies in 2025 - Darragh
Boy · DARR-a
An Irish boys' name often linked to the oak, in the top 30 every year since 1996.
205 babies in 2025 - Adam
Boy · AD-am
The first man in the Bible, and a top-10 boys' name in Ireland for over 20 years.
191 babies in 2025 - Michael
Boy · MY-kul
The archangel's name, in Ireland's top three for most of the 1960s to the 1980s.
188 babies in 2025 - Patrick
Boy · PAT-rick
The name of Ireland's patron saint, a top-five boys' name through the 1960s and 1970s.
183 babies in 2025 - Lucy
Girl · LOO-see
From the Roman name Lucia, linked to the Latin for light, and a top-ten name for much of the 2010s.
179 babies in 2025 - Hannah
Girl · HAN-a
A Hebrew name meaning "grace", in the Irish top 30 every year since 1993.
168 babies in 2025 - Cian
Boy · KEE-an
An old Irish name meaning "enduring", borne in legend by the father of Lugh.
166 babies in 2025 - John
Boy · JON
The name of two great saints, and Ireland's top boys' name for two decades.
164 babies in 2025 - Róisín
Girl · roe-SHEEN
"Little rose", the name at the heart of the old song Róisín Dubh.
146 babies in 2025 - Anna
Girl · AN-a
The Latin form of Hannah, given steadily in Ireland all through the CSO records.
143 babies in 2025 - Emma
Girl · EM-a
An old Germanic name that was Ireland's top girls' name from 2003 to 2005.
137 babies in 2025 - Caoimhe
Girl · KEE-va
An Irish name from caomh, "dear" or "gentle", a favourite in Ireland since the 1990s.
130 babies in 2025 - Alex
Boy · AL-ex
A short form of Alexander and Alexandra, mostly given to boys in Ireland but used for girls too.
128 babies in 2025 - Aoife
Girl · EE-fa
A name from Irish legend, and Ireland's top girls' name in 2000.
121 babies in 2025 - Ben
Boy · BEN
The short form of Benjamin, and a top-20 boys' name in the mid-2000s.
121 babies in 2025 - David
Boy · DAY-vid
The name of the biblical king, and Ireland's number one boys' name in the late 1980s.
114 babies in 2025 - Jamie
Boy · JAY-mee
The Scottish pet form of James, a top-ten boys' name here in 2006, and used for girls too.
112 babies in 2025 - Zoe
Girl · ZOH-ee
The Greek word for life, and a steady favourite in Ireland since the 1990s.
111 babies in 2025 - Alice
Girl · AL-iss
A medieval form of Adelaide, known to generations through Alice in Wonderland.
107 babies in 2025 - Katie
Girl · KAY-tee
A friendly form of Catherine that was among Ireland's top five girls' names in the 2000s.
107 babies in 2025 - Charlotte
Girl · SHAR-lut
The French feminine of Charles, given in Ireland throughout the records and big in the North.
105 babies in 2025 - Clodagh
Girl · KLOH-da
A name taken from a Waterford river, popular in Ireland but rare elsewhere.
100 babies in 2025 - Alexander
Boy · al-ex-ZAN-der
The Greek name of Alexander the Great, usually translated as "defender of men".
98 babies in 2025 - Matthew
Boy · MATH-yoo
The name of the gospel writer, given steadily to Irish boys for over sixty years.
98 babies in 2025 - Ryan
Boy · RYE-an
From the common Irish surname, and a top-ten boys' name here from 2007 to 2013.
95 babies in 2025 - Kate
Girl · KATE
A crisp short form of Katherine, and a top-ten girls' name in 2007 and 2008.
94 babies in 2025 - Rory
Boy · ROR-ee
The English form of Ruairí, "red king", borne by the last High King of Ireland.
93 babies in 2025 - Leah
Girl · LEE-a
A biblical name that was a top-ten choice for Irish girls in the mid-2000s.
88 babies in 2025 - Joseph
Boy · JOE-sef
The name of Saint Joseph, in the Irish top 100 every year of the CSO records.
86 babies in 2025 - Ronan
Boy · ROH-nan
Rónán, "little seal", a name old enough to appear in ogham and borne by several saints.
85 babies in 2025 - Dylan
Boy · DIL-an
A Welsh name from the Mabinogi, and a top-ten boys' name in Ireland around 2000.
84 babies in 2025 - Aaron
Boy · AIR-un
The name of Moses' brother in the Bible, a top-ten boys' name in Ireland around 2000.
82 babies in 2025 - Nathan
Boy · NAY-than
A Hebrew name meaning "he gave", in the Irish top 100 every year since 1991.
82 babies in 2025 - William
Boy · WIL-yam
A Norman name that gave Irish its Liam, and a top-ten name here in the 1960s.
81 babies in 2025 - Sarah
Girl · SAIR-a
The Hebrew name meaning "princess", Ireland's top girls' name for most of the 1980s and 1990s.
78 babies in 2025 - Eva
Girl · EE-va
The Latin form of Eve, the first woman in Genesis, and a steady favourite in Ireland.
77 babies in 2025 - Holly
Girl · HOL-ee
The Christmas evergreen, a top-30 girls' name in Ireland for much of the 2000s.
77 babies in 2025 - Evan
Boy · EV-an
A Welsh form of John that became a big Irish favourite in the 1990s and 2000s.
76 babies in 2025 - Joshua
Boy · JOSH-oo-a
A Hebrew name shared with Jesus, in the Irish top 100 every year since 1994.
74 babies in 2025 - Aidan
Boy · AY-dan
The English form of Aodhán, "little fire", the name of the Irish monk who founded Lindisfarne.
72 babies in 2025 - Maria
Girl · ma-REE-a
The Latin form of Mary, in the Irish top 100 every year of the CSO records.
68 babies in 2025 - Elizabeth
Girl · eh-LIZ-a-beth
A Hebrew name meaning "my God is an oath", in the Irish top 10 through the 1960s.
65 babies in 2025 - Cathal
Boy · KA-hal
An old Irish name meaning "strong in battle", worn by kings of Munster and Connacht.
64 babies in 2025 - Jake
Boy · JAKE
A short, punchy form of Jacob, and one of Ireland's most popular boys' names of the 2000s.
60 babies in 2025 - Mark
Boy · MARK
The name of the gospel writer, a top ten name for Irish boys in the 1970s and 1980s.
58 babies in 2025 - Martin
Boy · MAR-tin
A Roman name from Mars, and one of Ireland's top 10 boys' names in the 1960s.
56 babies in 2025 - Robert
Boy · ROB-ert
An old Norman name meaning "bright fame", a top 25 name in Ireland for over 30 years.
54 babies in 2025 - Áine
Girl · AWN-ya
An Irish name meaning "radiance", borne by the goddess of Cnoc Áine in Limerick.
53 babies in 2025 - Andrew
Boy · AN-droo
The fisherman apostle and patron of Scotland, a top-20 name in Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s.
53 babies in 2025 - Eoin
Boy · OH-in
The Irish form of John, used for every John in the Irish Bible.
53 babies in 2025 - Ciarán
Boy · KEER-awn
"Little dark one", the name of two early Irish saints, including the founder of Clonmacnoise.
49 babies in 2025 - Christopher
Boy · KRIS-ta-fer
"Christ-bearer", the patron saint of travellers, a top-20 name in Ireland in the 1980s.
45 babies in 2025 - Séamus
Boy · SHAY-mus
The Irish form of James, given in Ireland all through the CSO records.
45 babies in 2025 - Ciara
Girl · KEER-a
A feminine form of Ciarán, from ciar (dark), and number 2 for Irish girls in 1998.
44 babies in 2025 - Edward
Boy · ED-wurd
An Old English royal name, among Ireland's top 20 boys' names in the mid-1960s.
43 babies in 2025 - Eoghan
Boy · OH-in
An old Irish royal name behind Tyrone and Inishowen, often anglicised as Owen.
41 babies in 2025 - Laura
Girl · LOR-a
From the Latin for laurel, and a top five girls' name in Ireland for over a decade.
41 babies in 2025 - Mary
Girl · MAIR-ee
The mother of Jesus, and Ireland's top girls' name every year from 1964 to 1982.
41 babies in 2025 - Abigail
Girl · AB-ih-gale
A Hebrew name from the Old Testament, usually read as "my father's joy".
40 babies in 2025 - Anthony
Boy · AN-tho-nee
A saint's name that sat in the Irish top 20 for over two decades.
40 babies in 2025 - Jason
Boy · JAY-sun
The Greek hero of the Golden Fleece, and a top 20 boys' name in 1970s Ireland.
40 babies in 2025 - Kevin
Boy · KEV-in
The English form of Caoimhín, after the saint of Glendalough, a top 20 name for decades.
39 babies in 2025 - Lauren
Girl · LOR-en
A feminine form of Laurence, and one of Ireland's top 10 girls' names around 2000.
39 babies in 2025 - Cormac
Boy · KOR-mak
An ancient Irish name, borne by Cormac mac Airt, the wise High King of legend.
38 babies in 2025 - Margaret
Girl · MAR-gret
The name meaning "pearl", one of Ireland's top two girls' names in the 1960s.
35 babies in 2025 - Peter
Boy · PEE-ter
The Greek for "rock", name of the leading apostle, a top-20 name in Ireland in the 1960s.
34 babies in 2025 - Shane
Boy · SHAYN
Seán as it sounds in Ulster Irish, a top-10 boys' name in Ireland from 1986 to 1997.
34 babies in 2025 - Amy
Girl · AY-mee
From the French for "loved", a top-10 name in Ireland through the 1990s and early 2000s.
33 babies in 2025 - Alexandra
Girl · al-ig-ZAN-dra
The Greek feminine of Alexander, most popular in Ireland from the late 1990s to the 2010s.
32 babies in 2025 - Rebecca
Girl · reh-BEK-a
The Bible's Rebecca, a top-ten girls' name in Ireland around the turn of the century.
32 babies in 2025 - Pádraig
Boy · PAW-drig
The Irish form of Patrick, after the saint who brought Christianity to Ireland.
31 babies in 2025 - Orla
Girl · OR-la
"Golden princess": the English form of Órfhlaith, a favourite in 1980s Ireland.
30 babies in 2025 - Ellen
Girl · EL-en
An old English form of Helen, and a steady Irish favourite for generations.
28 babies in 2025 - Gráinne
Girl · GRAWN-ya
The princess who ran off with Diarmuid, and the Irish name of the pirate queen Grace O'Malley.
28 babies in 2025 - Tara
Girl · TAR-a
Named after the Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings, and a top 100 name here for over forty years.
28 babies in 2025 - Hugh
Boy · HYOO
A Norman name that Irish families long used as the English form of Aodh.
27 babies in 2025 - Melissa
Girl · meh-LISS-a
The Greek word for a bee, and a favourite with Irish parents in the 1980s.
27 babies in 2025 - Aisling
Girl · ASH-ling
The Irish word for a dream or vision, and a top 10 name in Ireland around 1990.
26 babies in 2025 - Charles
Boy · CHARLZ
The name of emperors and kings, and a steady choice in Ireland for decades.
25 babies in 2025 - Nicholas
Boy · NIK-o-las
The Greek name meaning "victory of the people", borne by the saint behind Santa Claus.
24 babies in 2025 - Rachel
Girl · RAY-chel
A Hebrew name meaning "ewe", and one of Ireland's top girls' names in the 1990s.
24 babies in 2025 - Scott
Boy · SKOT
A surname for a Scot, and a favourite Irish boys' name of the 1990s and 2000s.
24 babies in 2025 - Eric
Boy · ERR-ik
A Norse name with Viking roots that peaked in Ireland in the mid-1990s.
22 babies in 2025 - Eimear
Girl · EE-mer
The wife of Cú Chulainn in the Ulster Cycle, and a popular Irish name of the 1990s.
21 babies in 2025 - Jonathan
Boy · JON-a-than
The biblical friend of David, and a top 20 name in Ireland in the early 1980s.
21 babies in 2025 - Alan
Boy · AL-an
A Breton name of uncertain meaning, in Ireland's top 20 through the 1970s and 1980s.
20 babies in 2025 - Alison
Girl · AL-ih-sun
A medieval pet form of Alice, and a favourite with Irish parents from the 1960s to the 1990s.
20 babies in 2025 - Bridget
Girl · BRIJ-it
The English form of Brigid, one of Ireland's patron saints, and a top 10 name in the 1960s.
20 babies in 2025 - Jane
Girl · JAYN
The standard English feminine of John, and a steady Irish choice for decades.
20 babies in 2025 - Louise
Girl · loo-EEZ
The French feminine of Louis, a top 20 name for Irish girls through the 1970s and 1980s.
20 babies in 2025 - Richard
Boy · RICH-ard
A Norman name meaning "strong ruler", in Ireland's top 50 for decades.
20 babies in 2025 - Stephen
Boy · STEE-ven
The name of the first Christian martyr, and in Ireland's top 10 through the 1980s.
20 babies in 2025 - Niall
Boy · NY-al
An ancient Irish royal name, best known from Niall of the Nine Hostages.
19 babies in 2025 - Simon
Boy · SY-mon
The first name of the apostle Peter, and a top 50 Irish boys' name in the 1980s.
19 babies in 2025 - Brian
Boy · BRY-an
The name of Brian Boru, and one of Ireland's most common boys' names for decades.
18 babies in 2025 - Ian
Boy · EE-an
The Scottish form of John, a steady favourite in Ireland from the 1960s to the 1990s.
17 babies in 2025 - Ruth
Girl · ROOTH
A short biblical name, a steady choice for Irish girls from the 1960s to the 1990s.
17 babies in 2025 - Catherine
Girl · KATH-rin
The name of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and a top Irish girls' name in the 1960s.
15 babies in 2025 - Colm
Boy · KUL-um
"Dove": the name of Colm Cille, the Donegal saint who founded Iona.
15 babies in 2025 - Miriam
Girl · MIR-ee-um
The Hebrew form of Mary, and a steady Irish choice from the 1960s to the 1980s.
15 babies in 2025 - Paul
Boy · PAWL
The apostle's name, and one of Ireland's top boys' names through the 1970s.
15 babies in 2025 - Vincent
Boy · VIN-sent
A Latin name meaning "conquering", carried by Saint Vincent de Paul and common in 1960s Ireland.
15 babies in 2025 - Francis
Boy · FRAN-sis
The name of Saint Francis of Assisi, once a top 20 name for Irish boys.
14 babies in 2025 - Philip
Boy · FIL-ip
A Greek name meaning "fond of horses", borne by an apostle and a staple of 1970s Ireland.
14 babies in 2025 - Michelle
Girl · mi-SHELL
The French feminine of Michael, Ireland's number 2 girls' name in 1978.
13 babies in 2025 - Owen
Boy · OH-in
The English form of Eoghan in Ireland and of Owain in Wales, steady for decades.
13 babies in 2025 - Ross
Boy · ROSS
A Scottish name from Gaelic ros (headland), a big Irish favourite of the 1990s.
12 babies in 2025 - Timothy
Boy · TIM-uh-thee
A Greek name meaning "honouring God", once a regular Irish choice and a partner of Tadhg.
12 babies in 2025 - Adrian
Boy · AY-dree-an
A Roman name meaning "from Hadria", and a popular boys' name in 1970s Ireland.
11 babies in 2025 - Claire
Girl · KLAIR
The French word for clear, and a top 20 girls' name in Ireland through the 1980s.
11 babies in 2025 - Colin
Boy · KOL-in
A name with French and Gaelic roots, given widely in Ireland from the 1960s to the 1990s.
11 babies in 2025 - Declan
Boy · DEK-lan
The name of St Declan of Ardmore, a Waterford saint said to have preached before Patrick.
11 babies in 2025 - Donal
Boy · DOH-nal
The everyday Irish form of Domhnall, from old Celtic words meaning "world ruler".
11 babies in 2025 - Gavin
Boy · GAV-in
A form of the Arthurian Gawain, and one of Ireland's top boys' names from the 1970s to the 1990s.
11 babies in 2025 - Gerard
Boy · JER-ard
A Germanic name meaning "brave spear", in Ireland's top 10 boys' names in the mid-1960s.
11 babies in 2025 - Kathleen
Girl · KATH-leen
The English spelling of Caitlín, and one of Ireland's most familiar girls' names in the 1960s.
11 babies in 2025 - Kieran
Boy · KEER-an
The English spelling of Ciarán, "little dark one", a top 50 name in Ireland for decades.
11 babies in 2025 - Megan
Girl · MEG-an
A Welsh pet form of Margaret that was a top 10 name in Ireland around 2000.
11 babies in 2025 - Helen
Girl · HEL-en
The name of Helen of Troy, and one of Ireland's most popular girls' names in the 1960s.
10 babies in 2025 - Mairéad
Girl · ma-RAYD
The Irish form of Margaret, at its height in Ireland in the 1970s and early 1980s.
10 babies in 2025 - Neil
Boy · NEEL
An English spelling of the Irish Niall, a steady choice from the 1970s to the 1990s.
10 babies in 2025 - Nicole
Girl · nih-KOLE
The French feminine of Nicholas, a top 20 name in Ireland in the late 1990s.
10 babies in 2025 - Siobhán
Girl · shiv-AWN
The Irish form of Joan, brought by the Normans and at its height in early 1970s Ireland.
10 babies in 2025 - Brendan
Boy · BREN-dan
The name of Saint Brendan the Navigator, and a top 20 boys' name in 1960s Ireland.
9 babies in 2025 - Jennifer
Girl · JEN-i-fer
The Cornish form of Guinevere, and one of Ireland's top girls' names in the 1980s.
9 babies in 2025 - Noel
Boy · NOH-el
The old French word for Christmas, once a top 20 name in Ireland.
9 babies in 2025 - Dean
Boy · DEEN
An English surname that became a big Irish favourite around 1990.
8 babies in 2025 - Eileen
Girl · EYE-leen
The English spelling of Eibhlín, a top 20 name for Irish girls in the 1960s.
8 babies in 2025 - Jeremiah
Boy · jer-uh-MY-uh
A Hebrew prophet's name that Irish families long used as the English form of Diarmaid.
8 babies in 2025 - Lisa
Girl · LEE-sa
A short form of Elizabeth, and one of the most popular girls' names in 1980s Ireland.
8 babies in 2025 - Emer
Girl · EE-mer
The wife of Cú Chulainn, said to have all six gifts of womanhood.
5 babies in 2025 - Darren
Boy · DARR-en
A 20th-century name of uncertain origin, one of Ireland's top boys' names in the 1980s.
4 babies in 2025 - Sinéad
Girl · shin-AID
The Irish form of Janet, and the second most popular girls' name in Ireland in the mid-1970s.
4 babies in 2025 - Deirdre
Girl · DAIR-dra
The tragic heroine of the Ulster Cycle, and a top 10 girls' name in 1960s and 70s Ireland.
0 babies in 2025 - Fergal
Boy · FUR-gal
"Man of valour": an old Irish name at its most popular in early 1970s Ireland.
0 babies in 2025
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