With the birth of a baby, sometimes a name is passed down through the generations and sometimes a name is chosen for how unusual and distinct it is. Here are the top ten most popular girls’ names in Ireland last year 2020.
There are mixed opinions on whether the Covid-19 pandemic – and more time at home – has led to an increase in births in Ireland.
Babies born in 2020 certainly arrived at an unusual time. We’ve put together a list of the top ten most popular girls’ names in Ireland last year, given to babies born in 2020. The list is based on data provided by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Perhaps our list will provide some inspiration if you have a little person on the way!
10. Mia – meaning beloved
Mia is a name with many roots and meanings. The name originates from Maria, which stems from the Hebrew name Miryam.
It is also believed that Mia originates from the ancient Egyptian word Mr, which means beloved. Other roots include Latin via Spanish and Italian and a shortened version of the Slavic word Mila, which means darling.
251 babies were called Mia in 2020, according to the CSO.
9. Lucy – meaning light
Lucy is a Latin name. It is the English feminine form of Lucius, which stems from the Latin word lux, meaning ‘light’.
In 2020, the CSO records that 261 babies were called Lucy in Ireland.
8. Hannah – meaning favour
The eighth most popular girls’ name in Ireland last was Hannah. The CSO reports that 265 babies were called Hannah, which derives from the Hebrew name Channah.
It means favour and grace.
7. Ella – meaning other
Ella has a long history as a name. As far back as the 12th-century, Ella (then spelt as Alia) was used as a name prefix.
This would be used if a child was named after a parent, such as a daughter named after her mother. It would be a way to distinguish between the two.
Ella can be the shortened version of several names, such as Marinella. Alia was an ancient German prefix, and Ella means “she” and “her” in Spanish.
Ella is now popular as a standalone name, with the CSO reporting that 265 babies were called Ella last year.
6. Amelia – meaning work
The sixth most popular girls’ name in Ireland last year is another with Latin roots. Amelia’s root is Amal, which means “work.”
This translation refers to both being industrious and fertile. Amy, Emma, and Emily are all names stemming from Amal.
Amelia has been a name varying in popularity since the 18th-century. The CSO reports that 275 babies were called Amelia last year.
5. Ava – meaning guarantee and birdlike
We’re now halfway through our list of the most popular girls’ names in Ireland last year. Ava was the fifth most popular name, with 297 babies being called so.
It’s not entirely clear where Ava as a name stems from. The Germanic word aval means guarantee. In Latin, avis means birdlike.
There are also theories stemming from the Hebrew and Persian languages.
4. Sophie – meaning wisdom
Sophie is a Greek name; a form of Sophia. 328 babies were called Sophie in 2020, according to the CSO.
3. Emily – meaning rival and persuasive
As mentioned previously on our list of the top ten most popular baby girl names in Ireland in 2020, one root of the name Emily is from Latin (Aemilia became Emilia in Italian, and then Emily in English).
In Latin, the name means rival and in Greek, persuasive. Emily also derives from the Roman surname Aemilius. The CSO records that 329 babies were named Emily in 2020.
2. Fiadh – meaning wildness
The only Irish name to feature on our list of the top ten most popular girls’ names in Ireland last year is Fiadh.
Fiadh translates into several meanings: ‘deer’, ‘wildness’, and ‘respect’. The name was first registered on the CSO database in 2002. In 2020, 366 babies were named Fiadh.
1. Grace – meaning charm and goodness
At number one in our list of the most popular girls’ names in Ireland last year is Grace.
Grace is of Latin origin, and its first usage comes from the phrase “God’s grace.” Meanings of Grace include charm, goodness, and generosity.
In Greek mythology, the three graces were considered to be the goddesses of nature. The CSO reports that 410 babies were called Grace in 2020.
The CSO has been keeping records of baby names in Ireland since 1964. You can check how popular a name is for any year between 1964 and 2020 on the CSO’s website. Any name recorded in three or more instances is documented.
That’s the end of our list of the top ten most popular baby girl names in Ireland last year. Were you surprised at all? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Also, if you liked this list, make sure to check out the most popular boys’ names.
