WLRFM
News

CSO release the most popular baby names in Waterford

CSO release the most popular baby names in Waterford

Freya, Amelia and Emily were the most popular baby names for girls in Waterford last year.
That's according to the CSO's latest breakdown of the most popular baby names in the country for 2020.
The top spot for boys in Waterford City was shared between Alex, Jack and Liam, while in county Waterford Jack was the most popular name.


Nationally Jack is the most popular boys' name followed by James, Noah, Daniel and Conor.
Meanwhile, Grace is the most popular name for girls in the country and is followed by Fiadh, Emily, Sophie, and Ava.
50 years ago (1970) John and Mary were in the top spot and commenting on the trends in Irish baby names, Carol Anne Hennessy, Statistician said: "Back in 1970, John, Michael, Patrick, David and James were the names most favoured by parents of new-born baby boys.
"There were 193 male new-borns named John in 2020, just over 7.3% of the number of boys given the name John (2,629) in 1970.
"Interestingly, not one of the top five names for girls in 2020 appeared in the top 100 names a half-century earlier. Mary, Catherine, Margaret, Ann and Sharon were the most popular names for baby daughters in 1970, with 1,896 baby girls named Mary in that year. In 2020, there were 410 baby girls named Grace, 21.6% of the number of girls given the name Mary (1,896) in 1970. "
Carol Anne describes some of the interesting trends from 2020:" Ava reclaims her position in the top five names for girls in 2020, (coming in at number five) for the first time since 2016 when it was the third most popular name chosen for baby girls.
"As is evident from the tables, over the years, girls are given a wider variety of names than boys with 4,624 girls’ names registered compared to 3,715 boys’ names."
There were plenty of new additions to the list according to Carol Anne: "Sonny was the only new entrant into the top 100 for boys in 2020. The boys’ names with the most growth in popularity in terms of rank between 2019 and 2020 were Rian rising most in popularity, jumping 33 places from 119th place to 86th place. Similarly, Eoghan moved 29 places from 108th place in 2019 to 79th in 2020.
"There were seven new entrants to the top 100 for girls: Penny, Luna, Cora, Fíadh (with a síneadh fada), Croía, Elsie and Paige. Croía has grown most in popularity, rising from 162nd place in 2019 to 95th in 2020, a jump of 67 places. Cora jumped in popularity from 127th place in 2019 to 90th place in 2020, a rise in 37 places.
"Some less popular names for boys included Orion, Creed, Romeo, Klay and Séadna.  Less popular girls’ names included Zaria, Vienna, Fódhla, Marlee and Roxie."
Advertisement
Advertisement