Popular Names in Ireland

Previous generations in Ireland had little imagination when it came to choosing names for their children. The limited variety poses a serious challenge in my genealogy research, so much so, I almost dread the search for yet another John, or Mary. It’s a huge relief when the pursuit centres on someone with a more unusual name. Even familiar names like Andrew or Alice, for example, can greatly enhance the prospects for success.

So, I thought I’d examine my family tree to see just how popular the leading names really were. And, it’s true, John and Mary topped the list, each being held by about one in every ten people. Further, the top five names accounted for nearly a third (32%) of all males, with a similar number (30%) for females. 

Given Names Family Tree	Number	Percentage
Total males	644
Total females	593
Most Popular Male Names
1.   John	61	9%
2.   James	46	7%
3.   Thomas	38	6%
4.   Patrick	35	5%
5.   Michael	34	5%
Most Popular Female Names
1.     Mary	63	11%
2.     Margaret	34	6%
3.     Catherine	32	5%
4.     Elizabeth	25	4%
5.     Anne	24	4%

Based on analysis of my family tree software

Roman Catholic priests may have contributed to this confusion – they seemingly refused to baptise a child except with the name of a saint. However, traditional naming patterns undoubtedly played a part. Families mostly named children after the grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, such that the exact same names were passed down, generation after generation, and replicated by each member of the family.  

This absence of diversity, which occurred throughout Ireland, can be proven by analysing the data available in the 1901 census.[1] A similar list of five names, swapping only Michael for William, was held by a whopping 50% of the male population overall, with Michael coming in a close sixth.

Given Names 1901 Census	Number	Percentage
Total males	2,181,960
Total females	2,236,653
Most Popular Male Names
1.   John	348,524	16%
2.   James	228,521	10%
3.   Thomas	197,033	9%
4.   Patrick	163,544	7%
5.   William	151,841	7%
Most Popular Female Names
1.     Mary	455,724	20%
2.     Bridget	153,469	7%
3.     Margaret	125,328	6%
4.     Ellen	113,632	5%
5.     Anne	100,746	5%

Based on analysis of 1901 Census of Ireland

You may think there was more variation in the female names, with the top five  accounting for ‘a mere’ 43% of the female population. But, these figures exclude nicknames like Maggie and Annie, themselves also being listed among the top ten. And, the names Catherine, Kate and Elizabeth were way up there too.

My family tree may have beaten the odds slightly. Still, it’s no wonder, it’s far easier to track someone fortunate enough not to have a name mentioned here! 

[1] Census of Ireland, 1901, National Archives of Ireland (the census data is known to contain errors, though, it provides a good overall indication of the position).

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© Black Raven Genealogy