Passport application data for 2016 have revealed the most popular baby names in Ireland.
It looks like tradition won out in 2016 when it came to naming children in Ireland, as the tumultuous events of the year failed to influence parents’ decision-making. No baby Bowies, Kanyes, Donalds or Hillarys made it to the top of the most popular list in Ireland for 2016.
Emily and James have been announced as the most popular names for infants in 2016. Irish language names continue to be popular, with Aoife and Finn among the highest-ranked.
The list also reflects the growing multiculturalism of Ireland, with Freya and Mohammad being the highest new entries for the year.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, commented on the list to welcome new Irish passport holders and add his own quip about his name not being more highly ranked:
“Of the 17,752 passports issued to children born in 2016, 116 went to girls named Emily and 158 to boys named James. It is however, disappointing to see that that the name Charlie has dropped down to number 24 from last year’s rank of 11. We will have to see what can be done about that!”
Minister Flanagan also reminded new parents to make sure their families had valid passports before making any trips abroad in 2017.
“No- doubt many of these new passport holders will be going on holiday with their proud parents and families in 2017. I would like to take this opportunity to remind Irish people to check the validity of their passports and those of their families, and to consider renewing now, ahead of the summer rush. Special requirements apply to children’s passports.
“In 2016, we expect to issue some 740,000 passports by year’s end, a new record for the number of passports issued in any year to date and 2017 promises to be another busy year, both on the baby-making and passports-issuing fronts!”
