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Here are the most popular baby names on Irish passports

The Foreign Affairs Minister expressed his disappointment that Charlie has dropped two places since 2013.

THE DEPARTMENT OF Foreign Affairs has announced the most popular baby names on Irish passports in 2014: Emily and Jack.

Some 456 passport applications were filed under Emily and 574 under Jack.
These two names were also the most-used monikers in 2013.

baby Shutterstock Shutterstock

There were no changes in the top seven boys’ names, compared to 2013. Some 53,046 passports were issued to children under the age of three last year.

girls names

boys names

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan welcomed the new passport holders but wasn’t altogether happy.

While I was disappointed to see Charlie drop two places, I am pleased that it remains in the top ten for boys.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind Irish people to check the validity of their passports and those of their families, and to perhaps renew now, ahead of the summer rush. Last year, almost 630,000 passports we issued, a quarter of which were issued in May and June,” Flanagan said.

Some Irish names featured in the top 20 – with Aoife (number 6), Saoirse (18) and Caoimhe (19) all making an appearance for girls. Oisín placed at number 14 in the boy’s list, with Seán coming in at number 19.

Most traditional names were further down the list, with Sadhbh placing at number 67 (down 13); Gráinne at 182 (up 51); Diarmuid at 163 (UP 17); and Ciarán at 97 (down 21).

Zuzanna and Kacper were the highest new entries, coming in at numbers 105 and 94 respectively.

The full list can be viewed here.

Which baby names are most common on first passports?

Jack and Emily remain top dogs but celebrity babies make their mark

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89 Comments
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    Mute Denito
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    Jan 9th 2015, 11:54 AM

    If you want to give your baby a distinctive name call them John or Mary.

    571
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    Mute Prov. Shinnerbot
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:12 PM

    I like Saoirse and Chuckie.

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    Mute CitizenSmith©
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:17 PM

    Booby Sands-wich

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    Mute Juninho
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:45 PM

    That’s actually not bad, Shinnerbot

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    Mute Denito
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:49 PM

    I certainly lol’ed

    26
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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:35 PM

    I think Orla is beautiful.

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:13 PM

    OK Denito!

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    Mute Liam Long
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:38 PM

    Rumpelstiltskin

    54
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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jan 9th 2015, 8:33 PM

    21 jealous women and counting…

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    Mute Abbi Cranky
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:21 PM

    “Popular” is really a euphemism for common. And I mean that in the sense that it’s in common usage it’s not a criticism – Jack & Emily are lovely names but do you want your child in a class with four of them?
    Just dunno why you would you want to call your child a name that every other eejit has called their child?
    Check the top twenty names and don’t call your child any of them.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:24 PM

    Wat if its too late ,

    104
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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:21 PM

    No Gubnait, Feisty, Attracta Anastasia Assumpta, Dhualta, Majorie, Maud, Margaret Cheryl Vera, Agnes etc.

    So you see I think we should just stick to the popular ones dont you agree???????

    29
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    Mute Lily
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:29 PM

    My son has a name in the top 10 up there. His the only one called that name in his school of 400.

    In 4 years when he is in 6th, there maybe a couple of others by that name.

    My other son had a name in the top 20 back in 05. There were 2 other boys in the ward and both were named the same name as my son. But that name was chosen for him some 8 years earlier my self and my fella said our first born son would be called that name.

    Only one other child in the school has his name and he is Dutch and only started the school in September. His a year older.

    My sons do have Jack, Conor, Aoife, Orla and Emily in their classes.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Jan 9th 2015, 3:27 PM

    Abbi.. I couldnt agree with you more.. My neighbour called her kids Jack, Emily, Ava, Conor.. They are nice names but c’mon, there are so many Baby Name books to read..

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    Mute The Guru
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:03 PM

    Jack and Emily, how original!

    171
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    Mute Pauric Mc Kenna
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    Jan 9th 2015, 11:55 AM

    Gone are the days of micheal and patrick

    163
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    Mute HULK SMASH!
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:44 PM

    They’ve been demoted to naming of the male appendage :)

    23
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    Mute Phil West
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    Jan 9th 2015, 11:56 AM

    …and not a Mary in sight!

    128
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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:05 PM

    There was a young lass who begat
    three sons named, Matt, Pat and Tat,
    They were fun in the breeding,
    but hell in the feeding,
    for she found she had no tit for Tat.

    113
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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:08 PM

    Excellent.

    24
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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:16 PM

    LOL

    16
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    Mute Mick Hannigan
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    Jan 9th 2015, 11:54 AM

    4 kids never called them any of the above,

    104
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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:10 PM

    I have four as well, Mick. Named – One, Two, Four, and Six.

    Has proved very handy – as they all have unique numbers and initials.

    97
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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:27 PM

    Bet your name was in the top ten back then !

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 9th 2015, 6:21 PM

    Are you behind the children’s Database Will ?

    5
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:19 PM

    In the U.K. it is Mohammed.

    103
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    Mute Nick Beard
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    Jan 9th 2015, 5:45 PM

    No, actually, it’s Oliver.

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    Mute Nick Beard
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    Jan 9th 2015, 8:19 PM

    “This article was amended on 1 December 2014 to make clear that the claim that Muhammad is the most popular name for boys is based on a survey of website users.” Tsk, tsk. Read the article next time.

    It’s actually Oliver, according to birth records.

    15
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    Mute Nick Beard
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    Jan 9th 2015, 8:21 PM

    No stats released yet for 2014 from the ONS, but in 2013, it’s Oliver. People who don’t actually do the research are boring.

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/baby-names–england-and-wales/2013/stb-baby-names-2013.html

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 10th 2015, 1:53 PM

    Page doesn’t exist.

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:06 PM

    Am I the only one who thinks all of those girls names are horrible? Apart from Aoife

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    Mute Meow
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:11 PM

    Aoife is a horrible name (Sorry)

    109
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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:24 PM

    Amy whinehouse

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:24 PM

    I never said I liked my name either….I didn’t pick it you know!

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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:36 PM

    Think its only you. These are lovely names. Beats all the pop star names that cropped up.

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:46 PM

    Me and 42 others Catherine. And most of them are stars names. The first time I ever heard the name Ella was when a girl I know called her baby after the rihanna song. I’ve hated it ever since.

    25
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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:58 PM

    Well i still listen to ella fitzgerald, but i dident call my children after her.

    31
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    Mute Lily
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:17 PM

    The movie Ella Enchanted (some 8 or so years ago) was the first I heard of Ella and I loved the name. With my first born I played with the names Ellie and Elle but decided against them as they didn’t suit thr surname.

    Love Lily and Amelia too. (Some of my ancestors names are now becoming popular)

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:31 PM

    What did you settle on? In fairness each to their own, you probably wouldn’t like the type of names I’d like. I prefer old Gaelic names like Iseult and Cáit or some French names like Aurore and Selina. I know people with those names and they roll off the tongue beautifully. They’re also real names but not overused.

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    Mute Lily
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:38 PM

    Correction Ella enchanted was 11 years ago.

    We played around with Amelie, Zara, McKenzie, Maddison, Rebecca, Erin, Kayleigh, Micheala. Finally settling on the female version of Samuel.

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:44 PM

    Love that! And McKenzie and Maddison. Good choices! My godchild’s name is Matilda, another one I love.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 9th 2015, 5:06 PM

    There’s such a thing as uneducated names as well. Predictable American ones ha

    23
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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 5:13 PM

    You seem to have taken my dislike of the names quite personal Margaret. Have you perchance named all your wee ones from the top ten most common list?
    Don’t fret about it, the world would be a boring (and confusing) place if we all liked the same things. And there’s not a lot predictable about the names Lily has listed to be fair.

    10
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    Mute Mike Mcdonald
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:30 PM

    no muhammad?wont b long!jack popular in uk as well,good old ireland follow the leader!

    69
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    Mute Andy Patton
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:23 PM

    Are you handicapped?

    20
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    Mute Francis Foran
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:02 PM

    What ,no Enda !

    60
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    Mute stephen
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:08 PM

    If your name is Fidelma,Lucinda or John Paul, you can only expect one thing really.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 9th 2015, 5:06 PM

    Miles ?

    1
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    Mute Judge Judge Dredd
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:56 PM

    Protestant names for the girls! (*possibly not, atheist taking the piss)

    51
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    Mute Stephen Michael Mulligan
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:02 PM

    Why would anybody inflict a child with the name Harry?

    45
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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:09 PM

    But, his royal highness is called Harry.

    33
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    Mute Gravel Pitt
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:31 PM

    Yes – Edward, Charles and Andrew are fine names for fine men too. Hope some of them come over for the 16 bash – to give it a bit of atmosphere.

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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:37 PM

    Yeah Gravel. We don’t want Twink (the nearest thing we have to royalty) having to do all the work!

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:57 PM

    I wonder what Prince Harry thought of certain “ginger” comments coming from a certain Irish M.E.P. ?

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    Mute Pat Culleton
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:58 PM

    What is wrong with Harry much nicer than Stephen

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 3:07 PM

    Harry is not much nicer than Stephen. It shouldn’t even be appearing in the list. People wanting their kids to have the same name as a prince is the only reason its there. The one harry I knew when I was younger was frequently called hairy harry, harry the lorry, harry har-har and others I can’t recall. Even kids knew the name was horrible.

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    Mute Gravel Pitt
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    Jan 9th 2015, 4:18 PM

    I know a chap in Cork called Harry Barry-Barry.

    20
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    Mute Pat Culleton
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    Jan 9th 2015, 4:48 PM

    Why should Harry be not on the list. Very noble name. Not everyone calls their kids after prince Harry. The name was very popular all through the decades. Do you feel that way Amy because it is an english name. Is that why you think it is horrible.

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jan 9th 2015, 4:52 PM

    “Noble” – exactly my point. And no, its not because its an English name, I’m intrigued to know why you would even ask that.

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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:34 PM

    Charlie still in the top ten – Haughey hasn’t gone away you know.

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    Mute Conor Power
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:32 PM

    Bort

    41
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    Mute Liz Potts
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    Jan 10th 2015, 1:19 AM

    Quick, they’ve run out of licence plates!

    4
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    Mute CatherineMcAlinden
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    Jan 9th 2015, 3:50 PM

    Todd Unctuous

    36
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    Mute The Descolada
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    Jan 9th 2015, 5:50 PM

    Hairy Cake Lynam

    20
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    Mute amos brearly
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:39 PM

    What? No mohammad or winston?

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    Mute CitizenSmith©
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:14 PM

    Liam an abbreviated form of William

    28
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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:25 PM

    Most Americans ,australians don’t know Liam is Irish for William.. And Sean is now shawn.

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    Mute whack
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:28 PM

    Liam is irish for William

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    Mute J.Hanley
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    Jan 9th 2015, 4:55 PM

    Liam is a short form of the Irish name “Uilliam”, itself a derivative of the Frankish, “Willahelm”. The original name was a merging of the Old German elements, vila (“will” or “resolution”) and helma (“helmet”), and therefore, means “helmet of will” and “Guardian”.

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    Mute The Descolada
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    Jan 9th 2015, 5:54 PM

    “Helmet of will”, hahahaha!

    18
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Jan 9th 2015, 3:06 PM

    Gaydawn O’Queerdawn is my favourite. Only came across it recently!

    28
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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    Jan 9th 2015, 5:29 PM

    Not a lot of Irish names

    24
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    Mute kartz
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:36 PM

    Why not some innovative names like “Love fruit ” as they do in New Zealand? ;)

    21
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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:57 PM

    Heard the name conn lately. Cool name

    20
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    Mute Ciaran De Bhal
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:49 PM

    Could be worse, Gobnait. Attracta, Roseviolet for da wimmen and Conchobhar or some other such shote for da muckerses

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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    Jan 9th 2015, 1:59 PM

    Bhal – keep off the white powder….

    25
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    Mute PAUL NICHOLSON
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    Jan 9th 2015, 12:13 PM

    Yes Amy,yes you are.

    15
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    Mute Donaldo
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    Jan 9th 2015, 6:23 PM

    Mike hunt

    11
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    Mute Suzanne Bell
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    Jan 9th 2015, 8:16 PM

    Hate the name aoife, I know someone whose child is aoife and for some STUPID reason she accentuates the end of the name so it sounds “eFA”, so we now call that child FA, idiots.., have to add that I love the name blythe but some people couldn’t pronounce it right and it came out as blight, so had to call daughter Grace

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    Mute tom
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    Jan 9th 2015, 8:11 PM

    Hugh Jass

    6
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    Mute Sinead Clancy
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    Jan 9th 2015, 11:28 PM

    My little girl is called Jayne, not a common one at all.
    2 names that should never be used for siblings Sam and Ella (for those who done get it say it a few times!)

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:31 PM

    Charlie is missing Charlie …the clut

    5
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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 9th 2015, 2:32 PM

    *clutz

    3
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    Mute Eoin Bathe
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    Jan 9th 2015, 6:00 PM

    The top 3 could be related to Jack Daniels and James-on

    5
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    Mute Ciara
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    Jan 9th 2015, 10:34 PM

    Why isn’t Kaci on the list? It seems every girlo going is calling their kid that…

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    Mute Stefanie Burke
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    Jan 9th 2015, 10:23 PM

    My son is named Oliver and I would always choose it again..

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    Mute Oliver Wigglesworth
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    Jan 10th 2015, 12:52 PM

    It’s good to see British names continuing an upward trend in Ireland, though it’s still disappointing to see names like Aoife, Conor up so high. There’s a blog article if you search on Google which analyses baby names in Ireland over the past three decades. It shows that Gaelic names will die out in another generation thankfully. Personally I think they are pretentious, antagonising and entirely unnecessary.

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    Mute Maggie
    Favourite Maggie
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:07 AM

    Gone are days.of being called after our grandparents sniff sniff

    1
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