CSO baby names 2025: the most popular baby names in Ireland
Rían and Lily take the top spots for the first time, Irish-language names fill much of the top 10, and Mary is out of the top 100 again.
In short
In the latest CSO figures, for babies born in 2025, the top boys' names in Ireland were Rían, Jack, Noah, James and Oisín, and the top girls' names were Lily, Éabha, Fiadh, Grace and Sadie. It is the first time Rían and Lily have topped the lists since the CSO series began in 1964.
- Rían ends Jack's run at number one, the first boys' number one with a fada.
- Lily is the top girls' name for the first time; Sophie, top in 2024, is joint sixth.
- Naoise was the fastest riser for boys, from 162nd to 88th. Raya jumped 114 places to 99th for girls.
- Mary ranked 112th, out of the top 100 for only the fourth time since 1964.
- The CSO's interactive tool lets you check any name's ranking, including by county.
Choosing a name together? The free pregnancy section in the Lullagram app has name match: you both go through the CSO list and see the names you both love. More in our pregnancy week by week guide.
Every year the Central Statistics Office publishes the full list of names given to babies registered in Ireland, and every year it settles a thousand kitchen-table debates. Here is what the latest release, covering babies born in 2025 and published on 27 February 2026, actually says, and where to dig into the data for your own county and your own shortlist.
What are the most popular boys' names in Ireland?
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rían |
| 2 | Jack |
| 3 | Noah |
| 4 | James |
| 5 | Oisín |
| 6 | Fionn |
| 7 | Liam |
| 8 | Tadhg |
| 9 | Cillian |
| 10 | Leo |
Rían is number one for the first time since the series began in 1964, and the first name with a fada at the top since the CSO started recording fadas in 2018. Jack, top every year since 2007 except 2016, drops to second. Oisín climbed four places to fifth.
What are the most popular girls' names in Ireland?
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lily |
| 2 | Éabha |
| 3 | Fiadh |
| 4 | Grace |
| 5 | Sadie |
| 6 (joint) | Emily |
| 6 (joint) | Sophie |
| 8 | Olivia |
| 9 | Croía |
| 10 | Éala |
Lily is number one for the first time since the series began in 1964, up from sixth in 2024. Éabha holds second place, Fiadh rises to third and Sadie enters the top 5 for the first time. Sophie, top in 2024, is joint sixth with Emily.
Which baby names are rising and falling in Ireland?
The most interesting part of the release is always the movement below the top 10.
- Fastest risers: Naoise made the biggest jump on the boys' side, from 162nd in 2024 to 88th in 2025. Raya rose 114 places to 99th for girls.
- New to the top 100: Levi, Dáire, Naoise, Conall, Elijah and Teidí for boys; Ríadh, Gracie, Mabel, Arabella, Nancy and Raya for girls.
- Most new babies: Luca (197 to 260 boys) and Éala (114 to 209 girls) gained the most registrations; Éala is new to the girls' top 10.
- The big departure: Mary, once the default Irish girls' name and the top name in 1975, ranked 112th in 2025, out of the top 100 for only the fourth time since 1964.
How do I check the most popular baby names in my county?
The CSO publishes an interactive baby names tool where you can type in any name and see how many babies received it each year, how its ranking has moved over decades, and which names top the list in each county. It is genuinely one of the best rainy-evening websites in Ireland, and the fastest way to find out whether your shortlisted name is about to be shared with half the crèche.
For the county-by-county picture in a more readable form, Everymum's county breakdown is a good companion read. And if you want to see how Irish choices compare internationally, Nameberry's Ireland page tracks the same names against trends in the UK and the US.
What should I think about when choosing an Irish baby name?
- The fada matters. Rían, Éabha, Fiadh and friends all carry one. Forms, flight bookings and some school systems still occasionally mangle it, so decide early whether you will fight that fight (most parents happily do).
- Popularity cuts both ways. A top 5 name means your child will rarely have it mispronounced, and will also answer to it along with two classmates. A name around ranks 50 to 100 tends to feel familiar without being everywhere.
- Say it with the surname, out loud, several times. Including the shortened version the schoolyard will inevitably choose for you.
- You have time. Births in Ireland must be registered within 3 months, so the baby can arrive before the debate ends. Plenty do.
What do I need to sort out once the name is chosen?
The first weeks at home, which are the less glamorous part of the last trimester. Start with the Irish hospital bag checklist and our guide to how often a newborn feeds, and if you are still expecting, the free 5-week email course for expecting parents walks you through what those early weeks look like. Once the baby is here, Lullagram tracks feeds, nappies and sleep from the very first day, and both parents share one account. It is free to try on Android, iPhone and web.
Sources and guidance
This guide is written to be consistent with the official guidance below. It is general information for parents in Ireland, not medical advice. Links checked 7 October 2026.
High Quality app that helped with the sleepless nights. Must have for new parents.