New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that Rían and Lily were the most popular baby names registered in Ireland last year, reflecting continued appetite among parents for both traditional and modern choices.
Rían secured the top spot for boys in 2025, while Jack, which previously held first place, slipped to second. Noah ranked third, followed by James and Oisín, completing the top five boys’ names. The rankings highlight a mix of long-established favourites and Irish-language names that have grown steadily in popularity in recent years.
For girls, Lily emerged as the most popular name. Éabha took second place, with Fiadh ranking third. Grace and Sadie rounded out the top five. The list again demonstrates the strong presence of Irish names alongside more internationally familiar choices.
The CSO figures also point to several names climbing sharply up the rankings. Naoise rose 74 places to 88th position, marking one of the most notable increases among boys’ names. Raya recorded an even steeper jump, climbing 114 places to reach 99th among girls’ names.
A number of names entered the top 100 for the first time. New additions for boys included Levi, Dáire, Naoise, Conall, Elijah and Teidí. Among girls, new entries were Ríadh, Gracie, Mabel, Arabella, Nancy and Raya. The diversity of new arrivals suggests parents are continuing to broaden their choices, drawing inspiration from Irish heritage as well as global trends.
Historical data published by the CSO illustrates how naming preferences have evolved over time. In 1975, John and Mary were the most popular names for boys and girls respectively, a stark contrast to today’s rankings.
The office has recorded baby name data dating back to 1964.
In 1964, Mary was ranked 1 of all baby girls recorded in Ireland. In total, 3471 baby girls were recorded with the name Mary in this year. Meanwhile, In 1964, John was ranked 1 of all baby boys recorded in Ireland. In total, 3696 baby boys were recorded with the name John in this year.
While earlier figures provide valuable insight into long-term trends, the CSO noted that records compiled before digitisation were manually transcribed from paper forms and may not be as comprehensive as modern datasets.
Overall, the latest statistics underline both continuity and change in Irish baby naming patterns, with traditional favourites maintaining strong appeal even as new influences emerge.
