Top 20 baby names in Northern Ireland last year revealed

Who do you reckon came out on top?

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 27th Mar 2023

A recent study published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency has revealed that James and Grace took the top spot for 2022 births here.

In fact, Grace has held the top spot as the most popular girls’ name since 2018 and has appeared in the top 3 most popular names for 17 consecutive years.

Jack was a close second to James, after reaching the top spot last year. Noah returned to third place, where it was in 2019 and 2020, after reaching second place last year.

Oisin also entered the boys’ top 10 in 2022 for the first time since the recording of first names began in 1997.

Birth registrations in 2021 included 950 baby names that had not been used before.

Blockbuster movies, popular television series, current celebrities and memorable places continue to appear to be influencing factors for some parents.

Check out 2022’s most popular NI baby names 👇

Girl Names


Grace – 168 Babies

Emily – 152 Babies

Fiadh – 148 Babies

Olivia – 141 Babies

Isla – 118 Babies

Aoife – 113 Babies

Lily – 110 Babies

Annie – 97 Babies

Evie – 94 Babies

Freya – 94 Babies

Boy Names


James – 175 Babies

Jack – 169 Babies

Noah – 146 Babies

Theo – 132 Babies

Charlie – 131 Babies

Oliver – 123 Babies

Oisin – 119 Babies

Harry – 118 Babies

Cillian – 111 Babies

Thomas – 107 Babies

One of Northern Ireland most unique qualities is the fact you don't have to travel too far to find someone you know or have a relation with.

Research carried out by Forebears - an online genealogy portal - took a look into the past, to find out which names come out on top and what they actually mean.

Did your surname makes the cut?

Campbell is a Scottish and Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic roots cam (crooked) and beul (mouth)

The name Wilson is derived from the personal name William

The surname Kelly was first found in southwest Ireland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times

This surname is derived from the given name John and tone or toun - literally meaning John's town

Brown is an English-language surname in origin, believed to have used to describe of a person with brown hair or clothing

Smith was an alternative name for a man who works with metal - blacksmith

The Moore surname is believed to derive from the Gaelic meaning great, chief, mighty or proud

Meaning descendant of Niall, a personal name of Irish origin, thought to mean champion

Originally a viking name, Thompson translates into son of Thom, Thomp or Thompkin

Another name given to a guardian or warden

Murphy is of Irish and Gaelic origin, and the meaning is sea warrior

According to some sources the name translates into a grey home, or gravel homestead

The name Martin comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a derivative of Mars, who was the Roman god of fertility and war

The meaning of Quinn is counsel

Again, this name translates literally to son of Robin

Clarke was originally the name given to a person who concerned himself with matters of scholarly importance or of religious orders or as a secretary

The original Gaelic form of the name Doherty is O Dochartaigh, from the word "dochartach," which means unlucky

Hamilton is believed to mean treeless hill or home

The name could have occupational connections, as in the name for a bell ringer. But it could also hail from France, in other words 'belle' meaning beautiful

The Irish meaning of Hugh is mind and/or intellect

The name Donnelly derives from the words 'donn' which means brown, and 'gal' which means valor

The meaning of Murray is lord and master

McCann is an Irish surname derived from Mac Cana, meaning son of Cana. The Irish personal name Cana literally means wolf cub, and was a term for a young warrior

Again, the descendant of the metal worker

Descendant of Cathan - a diminutive from war and battle

The literal meaning translates to son of Lochlann

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, meaning yellow

Scott simply translate to painted warrior and wanderer

The Gaelic translation reads son of the strong man

This surname is derived from a nickname - the red

Kennedy comes from the Gaelic word chieftain - a leader of a clan or tribe

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor 'the son of Andrew'

Burns was the surname given to someone who lived near 'at the burn' which is nowadays known as a stream

The Irish translation reads, the son of Eoghan (wellborn), or of Eoin (gracious gift of Jehovah).

Of ancient Gaelic origin, Gallagher derives from the word 'gallchobhar', meaning 'foreign help'

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