People can now track the popularity of their names over the last 50 years using a new application on the Central Statistics Office (CSO) website.
Baby Names of Ireland lets you track how many babies were registered under any given name in Ireland in an year in Ireland between 1964 and 2016.
After you enter a girl or a boy’s name the application generates a graph detailing how many babies were registered under that name since 1964, and a ranking showing show popular the name was each year.
The application also lets users track baby names and view a display of popularity trends over time.
For example in 1964 there were 3,471 babies named Mary, the most common girl’s name that year.
Mary held the top spot as the most common newborn girl’s name until 1983, when it dropped to the second most common baby name.
By 1998 only 128 newborn babies were called Mary, making it the 34th most common name that year.
Last year 74 newborn babies were named Mary, and it was ranked 84th in the table of registered baby names.
For boys the application outlines the name Jack became increasingly popular after 1998, when it was ranked the third most common baby name, compared to the 19th most common in 1995.
The movie ‘Titanic’ which features the main characters named Jack and Rose, was released in late 1997.
Jack has been the most popular name for 13 out of the last 19 years. Last year the name was knocked off the top spot as James was ranked the most popular baby boy’s name.
The app shows names associated with an increase in immigration have steadily risen in popularity in recent years. In 1993, three babies were named Muhammad, and it was ranked 337th in the table of newborn baby names.
By 2005, 30 babies born in Ireland were called Muhammad, and last year it was the 83rd most common baby name, with 85 newborn’s registered under the name.
The most popular girl’s named last year was Emily, with 490 babies registered, followed by Grace (452), and Ava (388).
