Jack and Katie are still the most popular baby names in Northern Ireland

Jack and Katie were the most popular first names given to children whose births were registered in Northern Ireland in 2007. Jack has been the most popular boys name since 2003 and Katie the most popular girls name since 2004.

For boys, Jack has been in the top ten most popular names since 1997. James climbed from fourth most popular name in 2006 to second most popular in 2007, forcing Matthew to number three and out of the top two for the first time in over a decade. For girls, Katie entered the top ten most popular names in 2002, becoming the most popular name in 2004. Grace and Sophie are the second and third most popular names for a second year running.

Names increasing in popularity include Harry, which is the only new boys’ name to enter the top twenty in 2007 at rank 18 and for girls Anna, which moved from rank 20 in 2006 to rank 10 in 2007.

Only one of the 1975 top ten boys’ names (James) is still in the top ten in 2007, while none of the top ten girls’ names from 1975 appear in the 2007 top ten list. Over the last decade, parents have become more diverse in the first names they have given to their babies. In 2007, there were approximately 1,900 girls’ and 1,400 boys’ names used; compared with 1,500 girls' and 1,000 boys' names in 2001.

Notes to Editors:

1. A copy of the full Press Release which details the top twenty most popular boys’ and girls’ names in 2007 is available at: www.nisra.gov.uk. A full list of the 100 most popular boys’ and girls’ names in 2006 can also be obtained from this web address.

2. These results are based on an analysis of the first names recorded on births registered between 1 January 2007 and 4 December 2007 with the General Register Office, Northern Ireland. The analysis is carried out on births to both resident and non-resident mothers registered within the above time period.

3. Only the first name was used for this analysis. Different spellings of a name have been treated as separate names, e.g. while there were 153 boys named Conor (ranked 12th), another 41 boys had the alternate spelling Connor which was ranked 74th. Names containing accents have been recorded without those accents, e.g. Séan was recorded as Sean. Names of equal rank have been placed in alphabetical order.

4. Corresponding information for England and Wales and Scotland has also been published today by the Office for National Statistics (London) and the General Register Office for Scotland in (Edinburgh).

5. Further statistical information can be obtained from NISRA Customer Services:

Telephone: 028 9034 8160
Fax: 028 9034 8161
E-mail: census.nisra@dfpni.gov.uk

6. Media enquiries only to DFP Press Office on 028 9052 7644 or 028 9052 27375. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.