Most popular baby names for 2024 revealed

The CSO data also shows names which are beginning to rise in popularity. File picture: iStock 

Jack was the most popular boys’ name in Ireland for the eighth year in a row in 2024, but there’s a new top name for girls as Sophie overtook Grace as the most popular for baby girls born last year.

On Friday, the Central Statistics Office released its list of the most popular baby names in Ireland across last year, with 9,582 distinct new-born names registered.

Tracking the popularity of names over time, and breaking down names by county, the CSO data also shows names which are beginning to rise in popularity.

“Jack has retained the top spot as the most popular baby boys’ name in 2024,” statistician Sean O’Connor said.

“This is a position it has held for every year since 2007, with the exception of 2016, when James was the most popular choice of name. Jack and James have been in the top five boys’ names since 1998. Noah and Rían are the other two boys’ names which make up the top three in 2024.

“Sophie occupied the number one position as most popular girls’ name in Ireland for the first time since 2010. Éabha, Grace, Emily, and Fiadh were the other four girls’ names which made up the top five in 2024.”

Top 5 boys' names in 2024 

• Jack
• Noah
• Rían
• Cillian
• James 

Top 5 girls' names in 2024

• Sophie
• Éabha
• Grace
• Emily
• Fiadh

The CSO said that while the popular boys’ names tend to be consistent, there’s a lot more variety among girls’ names with Sophie, Grace and Emily all occupying the top spot in recent years.

In terms of the names increasing in popularity, Rowan, Caleb and Iarlaith are the three new entries into the top 100 most popular boys’ names for 2024.

There were four new entrants in the girls’ top 100 with Hallie, Rhea, Caragh and Aurora making the cut.

Mr O’Connor said there was a considerable difference in the popular names now compared to 50 years ago.

“While John was the most popular boys' name in 1974, it occupied the 29th position in 2024,” he said.

The CSO has revealed the most popular baby names for 2024. Picture: CSO

“For girls, Mary was the most popular name 50 years ago, whereas in 2024 it ranked joint 105th spot alongside Laura and Zoey. This was only the third time in 50 years that the name Mary did not feature in the top 100 most popular names in Ireland with 46 babies given the name of Mary in 2024.

“Interestingly, James is the only name which appears in the top 10 boys’ names in both 1974 and 2024, ranking 6th place in 1974, and 5th place in 2024.” 

In recent years, the CSO has also been tracking the most common surnames in Ireland. Last year, Murphy, Kelly, Byrne, O’Brien and Walsh were the most common surnames for babies born in Ireland. Of the 54,060 live births recorded last year, 20,812 had unique surnames.