IF you’re lucky enough to be named Jack or Emily, you might want to thank your parents because here’s some good news.
New figures released today by the Department of Foreign Affairs show that these names remained the most popular in 2014 for young children in Ireland.
The presence on the silver screen of Irish actor Jack Reynor and the star of Angelina Jolie’s new movie Unbroken, second-generation Irish man Jack O’Connell, might have something to do with it.
Welcoming the figures for children aged three and under detailed by the Passport Service of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister Charlie Flanagan TD joked: “I was disappointed to see Charlie drop two places, I am pleased that it remains in the top ten for boys.”
Interestingly, Charlie was the only name to fall in popularity in the top ten.
The seven highest-ranking boys names remained in the same position for another year running.
The popularity of Irish actor Cillian Murphy - who stars in the TV series Peaky Blinders – proved fruitless, as it could not prevent his namesake from dropping eight places to 23rd in the list.
Jonathan also experienced a significant drop down the ranking.
Meanwhile, Amelia and Lily were the two new entries in top ten names for girls.
“The names reflect the continued popularity of traditional Irish names, such as Aoife and Oisín, and the vibrant multiculturalism in today’s Ireland, with Zuzanna and Kacper the highest new entries,” Mr Flanagan added.
Emma dropped one place to third in the list of popular girls names, with 367 passport applications made in this name – nearly 100 less than top name Emily.
Also on the decline, falling from third to sixth place is the name Aoife. The Saturday’s Una Foden won’t be happy by the news, as it’s the name she chose for her two-year-old daughter.
Niamh moved down four places to 28th, but it’s a sad day for all the Naoise’s out there, with the name experiencing the biggest fall in popularity, dropping 70 spots in the list.
The most dramatic increase was the name Florence, which gained 170 places to stand 188th in the ranking. Irish Ski racer Florence Bell, who secured her Winter Olympic debut last year, is the most well known individual, if not the only one, that rang a bell. Excuse the pun.
For anyone named Sorcha, however, the name secured a spot in the list… as the least popular name.
Don’t worry though, there’s always next year.
