In the first year of the new millennium, Sarah, the most popular name throughout the 1990s, again heads the top 10 girls' names for 2000, compiled from the birth announcements in The Irish Times. Sarah has figured in the top 10 every year since these surveys began in 1987. In last year's Names of the Century survey, Sarah was the most popular name, not only of the 1990s, but of the 1970s as well. Sophie, too, recovered this year to claim second place, having dropped to 9th position in 1999. Flower names, so popular in the early years of the last century, are represented by two newcomers, Lily and Roisin.
James is the top boy's name for the second consecutive year. Luke and William make the top 10 for the first time. It is surprising to find Andrew, the most popular boy's name of the 1990s, has fallen from favour. John, the most consistently favoured name of the 20th century, missing last year, is back again, this time in seventh position.
It is remarkable how, year after year, the traditional names continue to dominate the boy's top 10. MacLysaght's comparative survey of male personal names in Ireland for the years 1650 and 1950 show John to be the most popular name in both of those years. Other names figuring prominently in both centuries were Thomas, William, James, Patrick, Daniel and Edward. All, with the exception of Edward, have maintained their popularity to the present.
Parents are, however, prepared occasionally to give unusual names to their baby boys. Examples in 2000 were Orin, Cinaed, Todd, Sian, Socrates, Otis, Grellan, Eimhin, Nasko, Kai and Fulton. And instances of the many uncommon names given to baby girls were Tashina, Zofta, Talitha, Brooklynn, LiLu, Tierna, Zaviere Siru and Elva Aphra.
Some of this year's announcements struck a sporting note. James Desmond arrived on December 14th "to complete the basket-ball team with David, Steven, Joseph and Ben. Peter will referee and Jacinta provides the essential loving to complete the team". Little Patrick Charles Lysaght is forewarned of things to come - "big brothers Eoin and Barry are working on a training programme for their new full-back".
Annie Mairead Brid, "millennium addition" to the Galgey-Greene family, was welcomed "by the rest of the `gang', Eoghan, Peter, Julie, Liam, Maryanne, Ruaidhri, Bubbles and Nellie". Sheena and Peter O'Hehir-Wells sent out a plea with the announcement of the arrival of Phillipa, their first child - "Parents Instruction Manual missing, someone please forward a copy". For two families, 2000 was the Year of the Warriors. The Clarke-Willis family announced the arrival of "another great little Irish warrior, Oisin Fionn Aubrey", and the O'Sullivan-Wallaces welcomed Rhys James, "another Warrior, and a brother for Odin".
The joy of the hour was expressed in the welcome the Finlays gave "their second Indian Princess, Imogen, sparkling sister for Vanisha".
Pet-names and shortened names are now fully established as proper personal names. This year we noted Millie Mae, Lizzie, Bobbi, Molly Kate, Evie, Maddie and Jodie for girls, and for boys; Charlie, Robbie, Joey Zack and Ronnie.
Missing again this year are the once popular names: Mary, Brigid and Anne/ Ann. Gone too are Irish names such as Una, Eithne, Nora and Nuala.
There were 1,160 birth announcements in 2000 compared with 1,224 in 1999, with boys outnumbering girls by 590 to 570. There was one set of triplets and 21 pairs of twins, including "Year of the Dragon" babies, Anthony and Aiesha Wong. This compares with 20 pairs of twins in 1999.
Finally, let us salute little Odilla Gilson, daughter of Odilla, first grand-daughter of Odilla, and first great granddaughter of (yes, you've guessed it), Odilla.
Boys
Top boys' names in 2000
1 James
2 Conor
3 Sean
4 Jack
5 William
6 David
7 John
8 Luke
9 Alexander
10 Daniel
The traditional names of Sarah, Sophie, James and Conor proved most popular.