Country Name Rankings
Most Popular Baby Names in Northern Ireland (2006)
Official birth-registry rankings โ Katie and Jack take the top spots. Every name links to its full meaning, origin, and popularity history.
Katie#1 Girl Name
Jack#1 Boy Name
2006Data Year
Top 100 Girl Names
| # | Name | Trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katie | — | Katie is a diminutive form of Katherine, derived from the Greek name Katherina, which comes from the root "kaโฆ |
| 2 | Grace | ▲ 20 | Grace derives from the Latin word "gratia," meaning favor, goodwill, or divine blessing, and entered English โฆ |
| 3 | Sophie | ▲ 1 | The name 'Sophie' is derived from the Greek word 'ฮฃฮฟฯฮฏฮฑ' (Sophia), meaning 'wisdom' or 'intelligence', and isโฆ |
| 4 | Emma | ▼ 2 | Emma derives from the Germanic element "ermen" meaning "whole" or "universal," and entered English through Olโฆ |
| 5 | Ellie | ▼ 2 | Ellie is a diminutive form of Eleanor or Helen, derived from the Greek name Helene, meaning "bright" or "shinโฆ |
| 6 | Lucy | ▲ 6 | Lucy derives from the Latin name Lucia, which comes from the root "lux" meaning "light" or "bright," signifyiโฆ |
| 7 | Sarah | ▲ 1 | Sarah derives from the Hebrew name ืฉึธืืจึธื (ลฤrฤ), meaning "princess" or "noblewoman," from the root ลar meaniโฆ |
| 8 | Hannah | ▼ 2 | Hannah derives from the Hebrew name Channah (ืื ื), meaning "grace" or "favor," from the root word "chen" (ืื). |
| 9 | Jessica | ▲ 10 | Jessica is derived from the Hebrew name Yiskah, meaning "God beholds" or "one who beholds," with the "-ica" sโฆ |
| 10 | Erin | ▲ 6 | Erin derives from the Irish name รireann, meaning "Ireland" or "from Ireland," with roots in Old Irish and thโฆ |
| 11 | Chloe | — | # Chloe The name Chloe comes from the Greek word "chloฤ" (ฯฮปฯฮท), meaning "green shoot" or "young green plantโฆ |
| 12 | Niamh | ▼ 7 | The given name 'Niamh' means 'bright' or 'radiant' and is of Irish origin, derived from the Old Irish word 'nโฆ |
| 13 | Caitlin | ▼ 1 | Caitlin means "pure" and derives from the Irish form of the Latin name Catharina, which comes from the Greek โฆ |
| 14 | Amy | ▼ 7 | The name Amy derives from the Latin "amata," the feminine past participle of "amare" (to love), meaning "beloโฆ |
| 14 | Aoife | ▼ 2 | Aoife means "radiant" or "beautiful" and derives from the Old Irish element "รณenfhir" or possibly from "aoi" โฆ |
| 16 | Leah | ▼ 6 | Leah derives from the Hebrew name ืึตืึธื (Le'ah), meaning "weary" or "tired," though some scholars suggest it โฆ |
| 17 | Emily | ▲ 3 | Emily derives from the Roman family name Aemilius, which likely comes from the Latin word "aemulus" meaning rโฆ |
| 18 | Rebecca | ▼ 1 | Rebecca derives from the Hebrew name Rivkah, meaning "to bind" or "to join," and was borne by the biblical maโฆ |
| 19 | Aimee | ▼ 1 | Aimee is the French feminine form of the name Aimรฉ, derived from the Latin "amatus," meaning "beloved" or "loโฆ |
| 20 | Anna | ▼ 11 | The name Anna means "grace" or "favor" and derives from the Hebrew name Channah (ืื ื), related to the root woโฆ |
| 21 | Molly | ▲ 2 | |
| 22 | Megan | ▼ 2 | |
| 23 | Olivia | ▲ 12 | |
| 24 | Cara | ▲ 1 | |
| 25 | Ella | ▲ 1 | |
| 26 | Mia | ▲ 14 | |
| 27 | Rachel | ▼ 12 | |
| 28 | Lauren | ▼ 4 | |
| 29 | Holly | ▼ 2 | |
| 30 | Abbie | ▲ 3 | |
| 31 | Eva | ▼ 2 | |
| 32 | Caoimhe | ▲ 5 | |
| 33 | Eimear | ▼ 1 | |
| 34 | Ciara | — | |
| 34 | Zara | ▲ 10 | |
| 36 | Eve | ▲ 3 | |
| 37 | Madison | ▲ 4 | |
| 38 | Shannon | ▼ 9 | |
| 38 | Rhianna | ▲ 36 | |
| 38 | Nicole | ▼ 10 | |
| 41 | Abigail | ▼ 12 | |
| 41 | Catherine | ▲ 14 | |
| 43 | Laura | ▼ 1 | |
| 43 | Zoe | ▲ 6 | |
| 45 | Beth | ▲ 3 | |
| 45 | Ellen | ▼ 8 | |
| 45 | Ruby | ▲ 6 | |
| 48 | Charlotte | ▼ 13 | |
| 49 | Kate | ▼ 2 | |
| 50 | Bethany | ▼ 4 | |
| 51 | Courtney | ▲ 4 | |
| 52 | Lily | NEW | |
| 53 | Cora | ▲ 21 | |
| 54 | Aine | ▼ 9 | |
| 54 | Evie | ▲ 8 | |
| 56 | Tara | ▲ 16 | |
| 56 | Orla | ▼ 7 | |
| 56 | Jasmine | ▲ 30 | |
| 59 | Brooke | ▼ 2 | |
| 59 | Sophia | ▲ 30 | |
| 61 | Orlaith | ▼ 2 | |
| 61 | Lara | ▲ 19 | |
| 61 | Jodie | ▼ 19 | |
| 61 | Hollie | ▲ 11 | |
| 61 | Georgia | ▲ 13 | |
| 61 | Annie | ▲ 31 | |
| 61 | Alex | ▲ 13 | |
| 68 | Cliodhna | ▼ 11 | |
| 68 | Faith | ▼ 9 | |
| 70 | Paige | ▼ 5 | |
| 70 | Naomi | ▼ 19 | |
| 70 | Kayleigh | NEW | |
| 70 | Clodagh | ▼ 19 | |
| 70 | Clara | NEW | |
| 70 | Amber | — | |
| 70 | Alisha | NEW | |
| 77 | Alicia | ▼ 26 | |
| 77 | Kayla | ▲ 12 | |
| 79 | Maria | ▼ 13 | |
| 80 | Alexandra | ▼ 10 | |
| 81 | Ava | ▼ 15 | |
| 81 | Mollie | ▼ 19 | |
| 81 | Poppy | NEW | |
| 84 | Mary | ▼ 18 | |
| 84 | Saoirse | NEW | |
| 86 | Mya | NEW | |
| 86 | Natasha | ▼ 6 | |
| 88 | Rebekah | ▼ 29 | |
| 88 | Rachael | ▼ 8 | |
| 88 | Lucie | NEW | |
| 88 | Louise | ▼ 5 | |
| 88 | Elizabeth | ▼ 24 | |
| 93 | Kara | NEW | |
| 93 | Jenna | ▼ 19 | |
| 93 | Isabella | ▼ 10 | |
| 93 | Alana | NEW | |
| 93 | Abi | ▼ 1 | |
| 98 | Casey | NEW | |
| 98 | Katelyn | ▼ 15 | |
| 98 | Meabh | NEW |
Top 100 Boy Names
| # | Name | Trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack | — | The name Jack is a diminutive form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan (ืืึนืึธื ึธื), meaning "God isโฆ |
| 2 | Matthew | — | Matthew comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning "gift of God," derived from the elements "mattah" (gifโฆ |
| 3 | Ryan | ▲ 2 | Ryan derives from the Irish surname ร Riain, meaning "little king" or "descendant of Rian," with linguistic rโฆ |
| 4 | James | — | James derives from the Hebrew name Yaakov (Jacob), meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows," and entered Engโฆ |
| 5 | Daniel | — | Daniel derives from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, composed of "din" (judgment) and "el" (God), meaning "God is myโฆ |
| 6 | Adam | ▼ 3 | The name Adam derives from the Hebrew word "adamah," meaning "earth" or "ground," reflecting the biblical accโฆ |
| 7 | Joshua | — | Joshua derives from the Hebrew name Yehoshua (ืึฐืืึนืฉืืึผืขึท), meaning "God is salvation" or "God saves," combinโฆ |
| 8 | Callum | ▲ 8 | The given name 'Callum' is derived from the Gaelic word 'calleam', meaning 'dove', and is of Celtic linguistiโฆ |
| 9 | Ben | — | Ben derives from the Hebrew word "ben," meaning "son of," and is used as both a standalone given name and a pโฆ |
| 10 | Ethan | ▲ 1 | The given name 'Ethan' is derived from the Hebrew word 'Eitan', meaning 'strong' or 'firm', and is linguisticโฆ |
| 11 | Jamie | ▼ 3 | The given name 'Jamie' is derived from the Hebrew name 'Ya'aqov' (ืืขืงื), meaning "supplanter" or "he who replโฆ |
| 12 | Conor | ▼ 2 | Conor derives from the Irish name Conchobhar, composed of "con" (hound) and "chobhar" (lover), meaning "loverโฆ |
| 13 | Thomas | ▼ 1 | Thomas derives from the Aramaic name Toma (ืชืืื), meaning "twin," from the root word for duality or twoness. |
| 13 | Luke | — | The name Luke derives from the Latin "Lucanus," which is related to "Lux" (light), meaning "man from Lucania"โฆ |
| 15 | Dylan | — | The name 'Dylan' means "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean," deriving from the Welsh elements *dy* (greaโฆ |
| 16 | Sean | ▲ 2 | Sean is the Irish form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan (meaning "God is gracious") through itsโฆ |
| 17 | Michael | — | Michael derives from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, composed of the elements "mi" (who), "ka" (like), and "el" (Goโฆ |
| 18 | Aaron | ▼ 4 | Aaron derives from the Hebrew name ืึทืึฒืจืึนื (Aharon), likely meaning "mountain of strength" or possibly "exalโฆ |
| 19 | Jake | ▼ 1 | Jake is a diminutive of Jacob, derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov, meaning "supplanter" or "he who supplantsโฆ |
| 20 | Charlie | ▲ 8 | Charlie is a diminutive form of Charles, derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man" or "strong mโฆ |
| 21 | Calum | ▲ 26 | |
| 22 | Harry | ▲ 10 | |
| 23 | Lewis | ▼ 2 | |
| 24 | Eoin | — | |
| 24 | Patrick | ▼ 1 | |
| 26 | Nathan | ▼ 6 | |
| 27 | Shea | — | |
| 28 | David | ▲ 6 | |
| 29 | Oisin | ▲ 1 | |
| 30 | Andrew | ▲ 1 | |
| 30 | John | ▼ 8 | |
| 30 | Joseph | ▲ 8 | |
| 33 | William | ▼ 1 | |
| 33 | Benjamin | ▼ 5 | |
| 35 | Rory | ▲ 44 | |
| 36 | Samuel | ▼ 11 | |
| 37 | Corey | ▲ 4 | |
| 38 | Reece | ▲ 6 | |
| 39 | Odhran | ▲ 13 | |
| 40 | Ronan | ▲ 6 | |
| 41 | Rhys | ▲ 30 | |
| 42 | Cameron | ▲ 5 | |
| 42 | Christopher | ▼ 16 | |
| 44 | Peter | ▲ 12 | |
| 45 | Sam | ▼ 1 | |
| 46 | Mark | ▼ 10 | |
| 47 | Noah | ▲ 8 | |
| 48 | Caolan | ▲ 8 | |
| 49 | Scott | ▲ 18 | |
| 50 | Joel | ▲ 3 | |
| 50 | Jay | ▼ 1 | |
| 50 | Darragh | ▼ 12 | |
| 53 | Oliver | ▲ 11 | |
| 54 | Kyle | ▼ 19 | |
| 55 | Owen | ▲ 9 | |
| 56 | Tiernan | ▲ 8 | |
| 56 | Carter | NEW | |
| 56 | Aidan | ▲ 12 | |
| 59 | Ciaran | ▼ 6 | |
| 59 | Jude | ▼ 3 | |
| 61 | Jacob | ▲ 1 | |
| 61 | Shane | ▲ 7 | |
| 63 | Niall | ▼ 21 | |
| 63 | Jonathan | ▼ 7 | |
| 63 | Cormac | ▼ 26 | |
| 66 | Alex | ▲ 9 | |
| 67 | Alexander | ▼ 7 | |
| 67 | Connor | ▲ 3 | |
| 67 | Liam | ▼ 7 | |
| 70 | Max | ▲ 7 | |
| 71 | Paul | ▼ 8 | |
| 71 | Oran | ▲ 2 | |
| 73 | Ruairi | ▼ 2 | |
| 74 | Robert | ▼ 25 | |
| 74 | Tyler | ▼ 25 | |
| 76 | Josh | ▼ 38 | |
| 76 | Bradley | ▼ 3 | |
| 78 | Caleb | NEW | |
| 78 | Harvey | ▼ 1 | |
| 80 | Lorcan | ▲ 9 | |
| 81 | Stephen | ▼ 39 | |
| 81 | Tom | ▲ 16 | |
| 83 | Logan | ▲ 8 | |
| 83 | Lee | ▼ 7 | |
| 85 | Eoghan | — | |
| 85 | Ross | ▼ 5 | |
| 87 | Finn | ▼ 2 | |
| 87 | Reuben | NEW | |
| 89 | Tiarnan | ▼ 7 | |
| 90 | Anthony | NEW | |
| 90 | Bailey | ▲ 6 | |
| 90 | Taylor | ▼ 10 | |
| 93 | Fionn | NEW | |
| 93 | Leo | ▼ 10 | |
| 95 | Conall | ▼ 12 | |
| 95 | Aodhan | NEW | |
| 97 | Brandon | ▼ 8 | |
| 97 | Jason | NEW | |
| 97 | Padraig | NEW | |
| 100 | Kevin | ▼ 15 |
Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), 2006. Trend arrows compare each name’s rank with the previous available year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most popular girl name in Northern Ireland in 2006?
The most popular girl name in Northern Ireland in 2006 was Katie, given to 297 newborn girls.
What was the most popular boy name in Northern Ireland in 2006?
The most popular boy name in Northern Ireland in 2006 was Jack, given to 312 newborn boys.
Which baby names are rising fastest in Northern Ireland?
Compared with the previous rankings, the fastest-rising names in the 2006 top 100 were Rhianna (+36), Annie (+31), Jasmine (+30), Rory (+44), Rhys (+30), Calum (+26).
Where does this data come from?
Rankings are from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).