A total of 22,983 births were registered in Northern Ireland during 2018.
As with previous years, a greater variety of girls’ names (2,196) than boys’ names (1,683) were registered in 2018.
The range of names being used by parents has grown considerably over the past 40 years, with 1,198 girls’ names and 647 boys’ names being registered in 1978.
There were 351 new boys’ names and 554 new girls’ names registered in 2018 that had not been registered since the reporting of baby names began in 1997.
Of the 11 new entries to the top 100 boys’ names in 2018, Brodie, Cohen, Frankie and Luca made the top 100 for the first time since the recording of baby names began in 1997.
These replaced names such as Arlo, Cole, Harley, Senan and Toby.
Within the boys’ top 100, the highest climbers in popularity between 2017 and 2018 were Tommy, Theo and Hunter, while Ben (once a top 10 name) was one of the names to fall the greatest number of places between 2017 and 2018, along with Jamie, John and Sam.
Of the 11 new entries to the top 100 girls’ names in 2018, Ada, Fianna, Mila, Myla, Pippa and Savannah made the top 100 for the first time, while Esme, Matilda, Roise, Abbie, Aimee and Megan left the top 100.
Within the girls’ top 100, the highest climbers in popularity between 2017 and 2018 were Rosie, Sadie and Saoirse.
Sarah (once a top 10 name) was one of the names to fall the greatest number of places between 2017 and 2018, along with Mya, Rose and Penny.
Search to find out how your name has fared in terms of the number of newborns being given it between 1997 and 2018.
Top 10 baby names in Northern Ireland, 2018
Boys:
1. James – 217 Babies
1. Noah – 217 Babies
3. Jack – 201 Babies
4. Charlie – 191 Babies
5. Daniel – 154 Babies
5. Jacob – 154 Babies
7. Oliver – 151 Babies
8. Harry – 150 Babies
9. Thomas – 142 Babies
10. Leo – 137 Babies
Girls:
1. Grace – 221 Babies
2. Emily – 203 Babies
3. Olivia – 178 Babies
4. Sophie – 155 Babies
5. Ella – 151 Babies
6. Amelia – 140 Babies
7. Isla – 135 Babies
8. Anna – 128 Babies
9. Lily – 125 Babies
10. Lucy – 124 Babies
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