Short and sweet
One syllable or just a few letters: names that are easy to say and hard to shorten.
- Rían
Boy · REE-an
Ireland's number one boys' name in 2025, a short Irish name with an old history.
541 babies in 2025 - Jack
Boy · JAK
An old pet form of John, and Ireland's top boys' name in most years since 2000.
475 babies in 2025 - Noah
Boy · NO-uh
The biblical ark-builder, new in Ireland in the 1990s and now a top-three boys' name.
436 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 - Fiadh
Girl · FEE-a
A 21st-century Irish favourite meaning "wild" or "deer".
355 babies in 2025 - Fionn
Boy · FYUN
"Fair": the name of Fionn mac Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna.
336 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 - Éabha
Girl · AY-va
The Irish form of Eve, now one of Ireland's top two girls' names.
306 babies in 2025 - Lily
Girl · LIL-ee
A flower name from the 1800s that topped the CSO's official girls' list in 2025.
302 babies in 2025 - Tadhg
Boy · TYGE
A strong old Irish name, traditionally "poet", back in the top ten.
286 babies in 2025 - Grace
Girl · GRAYSS
A Puritan virtue name, long used in Ireland as the English form of Gráinne.
265 babies in 2025 - Leo
Boy · LEE-oh
The Latin word for lion, and a boys' name that reached the Irish top 10 in 2025.
261 babies in 2025 - Luca
Boy · LOO-ka
The Italian form of Luke, climbing fast in Ireland and at number 11 in 2025.
260 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 - Finn
Boy · FIN
The old spelling of Fionn, as in Finn McCool, in Ireland's top 20 since 2020.
220 babies in 2025 - Éala
Girl · AY-la
A new Irish name, often linked to the word for swan, that entered the top ten in 2025.
215 babies in 2025 - Mia
Girl · MEE-uh
A short form of Maria from northern Europe, a top-20 girls' name in Ireland since 2009.
207 babies in 2025 - Isla
Girl · EYE-luh
A Scottish name taken from the island of Islay, now a top-20 girls' name in Ireland.
203 babies in 2025 - Theo
Boy · THEE-oh
A short form of Theodore that went from rare to the Irish top 15 in about ten years.
195 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 - Luke
Boy · LUKE
The name of the Gospel writer, and a fixture of the Irish top 30 since the 1990s.
185 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 - Ella
Girl · EL-uh
A short form of Eleanor or Ellen from the 1800s, number 3 in Ireland in 2007.
176 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 - Anna
Girl · AN-a
The Latin form of Hannah, given steadily in Ireland all through the CSO records.
143 babies in 2025 - Ava
Girl · AY-va
A short name with more than one root, and Ireland's top girls' name in 2008.
143 babies in 2025 - Kai
Boy · KYE
A short name with roots in several languages, given in Ireland since the late 1990s.
140 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 - Evie
Girl · EE-vee
A pet form of Eve or Evelyn, now a name in its own right and popular since the 2010s.
135 babies in 2025 - Sadhbh
Girl · SIVE
An old Irish name, probably "sweet", borne by the mother of Oisín in legend.
129 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 - Méabh
Girl · MAYV
The legendary queen of Connacht who started the Táin, and the Irish form of Maeve.
125 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 - Max
Boy · MAX
A short form of Maximilian borrowed from German, and a top-30 name in 2022.
120 babies in 2025 - Ruby
Girl · ROO-bee
A jewel name from the red gemstone, and a top-20 favourite in the 2010s.
119 babies in 2025 - Hugo
Boy · HYOO-go
The Latin form of Hugh, from an old Germanic word for mind, and at its highest rank yet in Ireland.
117 babies in 2025 - Ayla
Girl · AY-la
A Turkish name linked with the halo around the moon, now rising fast in Ireland.
112 babies in 2025 - Tom
Boy · TOM
The short form of Thomas, given as a full name to Irish boys since the 1980s.
111 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 - Maya
Girl · MY-a
A name found in many languages, which reached the Irish top 20 in 2024.
108 babies in 2025 - Sam
Boy · SAM
The short form of Samuel, and in Ireland the nickname of the All-Ireland football cup.
106 babies in 2025 - Ada
Girl · AY-da
A short old name linked to "noble", back in favour with Irish parents since the late 2010s.
104 babies in 2025 - Cuán
Boy · KOO-an
An old Irish name, spelled four ways, that has shot up the list since 2020.
101 babies in 2025 - Shay
Boy · SHAY
The familiar Irish short form of Séamus, also linked with the surname O'Shea.
101 babies in 2025 - Arlo
Boy · AR-lo
A poet's name for an Irish mountain, now a fast riser among Irish boys.
100 babies in 2025 - Ivy
Girl · EYE-vee
A plant name that caught on in the late 1800s, and a fast riser in Ireland since 2012.
95 babies in 2025 - Cara
Girl · KAR-a
The Irish word for friend, or the Italian for dear, and a girls' name since the 1960s.
94 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 - Jude
Boy · JOOD
The apostle who became patron saint of lost causes, now rising fast in both parts of Ireland.
91 babies in 2025 - Rose
Girl · ROZE
The flower name, with an Irish cousin in Róisín, back in the top 100 since 2012.
84 babies in 2025 - Maeve
Girl · MAYV
The English form of Méabh, the warrior queen of Connacht who started the Táin.
83 babies in 2025 - Nora
Girl · NOR-a
A short form of Honora, hugely common in Ireland in the 1960s and back in favour now.
82 babies in 2025 - Leon
Boy · LEE-on
The Greek word for lion, which is also the Irish word for one.
81 babies in 2025 - Zara
Girl · ZAR-a
A short, bright name of uncertain origin, in the Irish top 100 every year since 2005.
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 - Evan
Boy · EV-an
A Welsh form of John that became a big Irish favourite in the 1990s and 2000s.
76 babies in 2025 - Aria
Girl · AR-ee-a
A musical name from the Italian for "air", given in Ireland since 2009.
72 babies in 2025 - Levi
Boy · LEE-vy
The third son of Jacob in the Bible, in the Irish top 100 for the first time in 2025.
71 babies in 2025 - Eve
Girl · EEV
The first woman in the Bible, a name that grew fast in Ireland from the late 1990s.
66 babies in 2025 - Cora
Girl · KOR-a
A short, old-fashioned name linked to the Greek Kore, back in favour with Irish parents.
65 babies in 2025 - Cody
Boy · KOH-dee
An Irish surname turned first name, best known through Buffalo Bill Cody.
64 babies in 2025 - Joey
Boy · JOH-ee
The friendly pet form of Joseph, now given as a name in its own right.
64 babies in 2025 - Luna
Girl · LOO-na
The Latin word for the moon, a new arrival that joined the Irish top 100 in 2020.
64 babies in 2025 - Rhea
Girl · REE-a
The mother of Zeus in Greek myth, a name climbing fast in Ireland in the 2020s.
64 babies in 2025 - Zach
Boy · ZAK
A short form of Zachary, given as a full name in Ireland since the 1990s.
62 babies in 2025 - Faye
Girl · FAY
A short, soft English name, at its most popular in Ireland in the early 2010s.
61 babies in 2025 - Mila
Girl · MEE-la
A short Slavic name meaning "gracious" or "dear", new to Ireland this century.
61 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 - Niamh
Girl · NEEV
"Bright": the golden-haired queen of Tír na nÓg, and a 1990s favourite.
54 babies in 2025 - Shea
Boy · SHAY
A boy's name from the Kerry surname O'Shea, climbing in Ireland and popular in the North.
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 - Eoin
Boy · OH-in
The Irish form of John, used for every John in the Irish Bible.
53 babies in 2025 - Dara
Boy · DAR-a
An Irish name usually linked with the oak, given to boys and some girls.
52 babies in 2025 - Milo
Boy · MY-lo
A Latin form of Miles, once used in Ireland as an English form of Máelmuire.
51 babies in 2025 - George
Boy · JORJ
The Greek word for a farmer, carried by a soldier saint and many kings.
49 babies in 2025 - Myles
Boy · MYLZ
A spelling of Miles, long used in Ireland as an English form of Maolmhuire.
49 babies in 2025 - Lara
Girl · LAR-a
A Russian short form of Larisa, known in English through Doctor Zhivago.
47 babies in 2025 - Kyle
Boy · KYLE
From the Gaelic for a narrow strait, a top-40 name in Ireland through the 2000s.
44 babies in 2025 - Bella
Girl · BEL-a
A short form of Isabella, read as the Italian for "beautiful", popular since 2010.
42 babies in 2025 - Tadgh
Boy · TYGE
A common variant spelling of Tadhg, the old Irish name traditionally meaning "poet".
42 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 - Nina
Girl · NEE-na
A short international name with Russian and Italian roots, used steadily in Ireland.
41 babies in 2025 - Nell
Girl · NELL
An old English pet form of Eleanor and Ellen, rising fast in Ireland.
40 babies in 2025 - Lola
Girl · LOH-la
The Spanish pet form of Dolores, given to Irish girls since 1998.
38 babies in 2025 - Sara
Girl · SAIR-a
The Latin spelling of Sarah, the wife of Abraham in the Bible, used in Ireland all along.
37 babies in 2025 - Beau
Boy · BOH
From the French for handsome, a short name that reached the Irish list in 2004.
34 babies in 2025 - Joe
Boy · JOE
The everyday short form of Joseph, given as a full name in Ireland since the 1980s.
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 - Siún
Girl · SHOON
A short Irish form linked with Siobhán and Joan, given to 30 to 50 girls a year lately.
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 - Blake
Boy · BLAKE
A one-syllable surname name, borne by one of the Tribes of Galway, used mostly for boys.
33 babies in 2025 - Lyla
Girl · LY-la
A newer spelling of Leila, the Arabic name linked to night, rising since 2007.
33 babies in 2025 - Ayda
Girl · EYE-da
A Turkish name linked to the moon, which grew quickly in Ireland after 2017.
31 babies in 2025 - Tess
Girl · TESS
A short form of Teresa, known from Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles, now a name of its own.
31 babies in 2025 - Orla
Girl · OR-la
"Golden princess": the English form of Órfhlaith, a favourite in 1980s Ireland.
30 babies in 2025 - Ted
Boy · TED
The friendly short form of Edward and Theodore, now given as a name in its own right.
29 babies in 2025 - Remi
Girl · REM-ee
A French name from Latin Remigius, given to girls and boys in Ireland since the 2010s.
28 babies in 2025 - Zoey
Girl · ZOH-ee
A phonetic spelling of Zoë, from the Greek word for life.
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 - Paige
Girl · PAYJ
An English surname for a young attendant, given to Irish girls since 1991.
27 babies in 2025 - Quinn
Girl · KWIN
An Irish surname turned first name, given to both boys and girls in Ireland.
27 babies in 2025 - Josh
Boy · JOSH
The short form of Joshua, used as a full name and most popular in Ireland in the 2000s.
25 babies in 2025 - Eli
Boy · EE-lye
A Hebrew name from the Bible, and also a short form of Elijah.
23 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 - Oran
Boy · OR-an
An English form of Odhrán, a saint's name, that took off in Ireland in the 2000s.
22 babies in 2025 - Úna
Girl · OO-na
An old Irish name famous in legend, and the root of Oona and Oonagh.
22 babies in 2025 - Colm
Boy · KUL-um
"Dove": the name of Colm Cille, the Donegal saint who founded Iona.
15 babies in 2025 - Bríd
Girl · BREED
The Irish form of Brigid, the name of Ireland's best-known woman saint and of an older goddess.
10 babies in 2025 - Emer
Girl · EE-mer
The wife of Cú Chulainn, said to have all six gifts of womanhood.
5 babies in 2025
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