Sean and Sarah most popular Irish names

AMONG the more unusual names Irish parents gave their children last year were Elvis, Kylie, Setanta, Shakira and Paris.

Last year Sean was most popular name for boys and Sarah was the most popular for girls — yet yesterday’s Central Statistics Office’s Irish Babies’ Names 2006 list reveals that Ireland is enthralled with celebrity culture.

Even though Elvis Presley died 30 years ago, four Irish-born boys were registered with the name of the king of rock ’n’ roll last year.