IRELAND is in the midst of a baby boom, with the highest number of births in more than a century.
The country registered over 75,000 births last year, the highest number since 1896.
Figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday show there were 38,593 boys and 36,472 girls born last year, with Jack and Ava emerging as the most popular names.
Just over a third of the births (5,904) in the last quarter of 2008 occurred outside of marriage with almost half to first-time mothers.
The highest percentage of births outside marriage occurred in Waterford city at 53%, while the lowest percentage was in Leitrim at 20%.
Some 42% of the births in 2008 were to first-time mothers.
In terms of baby names, the perennially popular Jack managed to retain the top spot for the second year in a row, while Ava, which was only ranked sixth in 2007 took first place knocking Sarah off the top spot.
There were 1,141 boys named Jack in 2008, 178 more than were named Sean.
There were 685 girls named Ava, 22 more than the number of girls named Katie, the second most popular girls’ name
The top five boys’ names in 2008 were Jack, Sean, Conor, Daniel and James. Four of the top five boys’ names (Jack, Sean, Conor and James) have been in the top five since 1998, with only their order changing from year to year.
Jack was the most popular boys name in seven of the eight regional authority areas. The exception was in Dublin where Sean was the most popular boy’s name.
There has been more variation in the girls’ top five. While Emma and Sarah have been in the top five since 1998, Katie has only been the top five since 2003. Emily and Ava are in the top five for the first time on this occasion.
There were five first-time entries for the top 100 boys’ names – Jakub, Kacper, Filip, Billy and Patryk – reflecting the new Ireland.
The highest new entry at number 63 was Jakub which rose from 649th place in 2003 and 105th in 2007.
There were four first-time entries to the top 100 for girls: Maja, Natalia, Zuzanna and Meabh.
The highest new entry was Maja, which climbed from 657th place in 2003 and 110th in 2007 to reach 73rd place.
Ava was the most popular name in the Dublin region while Katie was the most popular in the midland and mid-east region.
Sarah was the favourite name in the mid-west and south-west regions while Emma was top in the border and west regions. Emily was the most popular girls name in the south-east region.
Also, Hugh returned to the top 100 list for the first time in two years while Odhran and Lorcan returned after a three-year absence.
Michelle also returned to the top 100 after a two years out of the list.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, September 01, 2009
