Aoife and Jack most popular babies names in Galway City

By Dara Bradley

Aoife was the most popular girls’ name in Galway city in 2012, and Jack and James were the most popular boys’ names.

The latest Central Statistics Office release showed that Aoife has overtaken Róisin and Ciara as the most popular girls’ names in the city in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

James is once again the most popular boys’ name in the city but it is ranked joint top with Jack which was also added to the 2012 city favourites list. In 2010, Conor and Michael were tops in the city.

The most popular girls’ name in county Galway in 2012 was Ella. It was Caoimhe in 2011 and Sarah in 2010.

Jack is once again the most popular boys’ name in County Galway, a name that was overtaken in 2011 by Conor but which is back on top again.

Nationally, Jack and Emily were the most popular babies’ names registered in 2012. Jack retains the top position it held since 2007. Emily also retains the top position it held in 2011 coming from eighth place in 2007 and fifth place in 2008.

Of the 37,210 boys born in 2012, 831 (2.2%) were named Jack, 58 more than the number of boys named James, the second most popular name. Of the 35,015 girls born, there were 626 (1.8%) named Emily, which was 49 more than the number of girls named Sophie, the second most popular girls’ name.

The top five boys’ names in 2012 (Jack, James, Daniel, Sean and Conor) were also the top five each year since 2007 with only their order changing from year to year.

The top five girls’ names in 2012 (Emily, Sophie, Emma, Grace and Lily) hold exactly the same positions they held in 2011.