Thursday 19 December 2013

Jack and Grace most popular names in NI in 2013

The most popular names registered in Northern Ireland in 2013 were Jack and Grace. More than 280 baby boys became Jacks, while some 200 baby girls were registered as Grace.

Four of the top 10 boys’ names from 2003 are still present in the top 10 today (Jack, James, Daniel and Matthew). None of the girls’ names from the top 10 in 2003 remain in the top 10 today.

Here's the Top 10 for 2013 for Northern Ireland together with some observations from the 1901 census. The 1901 data is island-wide but gives an indication of the relative popularity of the name at that time. The number relates to the number of babies up to one-year-old with the corresponding name.

BOYS

Rank
Name
No. in 1901, All-Ireland
1
Jack
23
2
James
6870
3
Daniel
1116
4
Harry
62
5
Charlie
23
6
Noah
3
7
Ethan
0
7
Matthew
235
9
Jacob
26
10
Thomas
5220

The top boy's name in 1901 was John, followed by James (see above) and then Patrick. There were more than 9,300 little boys up to one-year-old called John recorded in that year's census, and nearly 6,600 lads called Patrick.

GIRLS


Rank
Name
No. in 1901, All-Ireland
1
Grace
123
2
Emily
253
3
Sophie
3
4
Ella
12
5
Lucy
99
6
Sophia
52
7
Aoife
0
8
Jessica
1
9
Amelia
40
10
Anna
120

The top girl's name in 1901 was Mary, with more than 9,100 little girls up to one-year-old recorded as Mary in that year's census. Margaret was probably the second most popular name, with just under 3,200 entries. Catherine/Kate and Ellen/Nellie were also very popular.

2013 climbers and fallers

Luke was the largest mover within the boys’ top 20, rising to rank 19 from rank 27 last year. Further down within the top 100, Jackson has risen 50 places to 82nd while Theo has also risen 50 places to rank 92. The greatest drops from the 2012 top 100 were Corey, down 66 places to 105th and Reece, down 65 places to 155th.

Ava and Ruby are new entries to the girls’ top 20 in 2013. Looking further down within the top 100, Elsie has risen 60 places to rank 93 and Robyn has risen 45 places to rank 82. The greatest falls out of top 100 were Shannon and Elizabeth.