Just released -
www.nisra.gov
James CillianNoahJackTheoJude LucaCharlieOisinOliver
GraceOliviaFiadhAoifeEmilyCharlotteLilyIslaSophiaFreya
James and
Grace were the most popular first names given to babies in Northern
Ireland, for births registered in 2024.
This is one of the findings of the Baby Names 2024 statistics published today by the Northern
Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
The statistics show
Grace has returned to the top spot as the most popular girls' name after five years at number one from 2018 to 2022 and has appeared in the top three most popular names for 19 consecutive years.
James has returned to number one after a six-year stretch at the top spot between 2015 and 2020, then regaining it in 2022.
For boys' names,
Cillian was a close second to
James. This name has increased in popularity since entering the top ten most popular names in 2020.
Noah returned to third place, at which it has placed five times since 2015, after reaching first place in 2023.
Jude entered the boys' top ten in 2024 for the first time in the series which dates back to 1997. Within the boys' top 100, the highest climbers in popularity between 2023 and 2024 were
Austin,
Rossa,
Callum, and
Joseph. Some of the less common names given to baby boys in 2024 were
Royce,
Bentley, and
Phoenix.
For baby girls,
Olivia came in second to
Grace, having re-entered the top three for the first time since 2018.
Fiadh returned to third place, down from second place in 2023 and has held a top five position since 2020.
Within the girls' top 100, the highest climbers in popularity between 2023 and 2024 were
Maya,
Maria,
Eliza, and
Ayla.
As with previous years, there were a greater variety of girls' names (2,289) than boys' names (1,826) registered in 2024. Some of the less common names given baby girls in 2024 were
Dolly,
Primrose, and
Melody.
Birth registrations in 2024 included 948 baby names that had not been used before.
Blockbuster movies, popular television series, current celebrities and memorable places continue to appear to be influencing factors for some parents.