Sean and Sarah most popular names

Sean and Sarah were the most popular names given to new-born babies last year, records released today show.

Sean and Sarah were the most popular names given to new-born babies last year, records released today show.

The names have been constant favourites recently and return to the top spot that both have held before in the past few years.

Jack was the second most registered boys name, slightly behind Sean, while Emma was the second-most popular girls name.

The names Sean, Jack, Conor, Adam and James have consistently been the top five boys names since 1998, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Only their order has changed from year to year over the past decade.

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Emma, Sarah and Aoife have all remained in the top five since 1998, but Katie only joined them in 2003, and Sophie joined this year for the first time.

Popular Co Clare name Senan, after St Senan who lived on Scattery Island on the Shannon Estuary, makes its debut in the top 100 boys name. Also in the top 100 for the first time is Tristan.

There were three first time entries into the girls top 100 names, Aoibheann, its variant Aoibhinn, and Jasmine.

The fastest rising boys names were Cameron, Calum and Rory, while Jasmine and Alana were the girls names gaining popularity most quickly.

PA