Naomh Conaill - champions for the eighth time in Donegal Picture Thomas Gallagher
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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Jack may be tops elsewhere but Charlie and Noah are boys name favourites in Donegal as is Emily with the girls
Charlie and Noah bucked the national trend for the boys and Emily was a firm favourite everywhere for the girls as the most popular names given to newborn babies in Donegal in 2022 were announced today.
Noah was the top or joint top boys’ name in ten locations which includes areas from Donegal as far south as Cork City.
According to the Central Statistics Office, Emily was also the most popular throughout the Republic replacing Fiadh, the national trend remained loyal to Jack as the most popular boys name for the sixth year in a row.
Emily was also the most popular name for girls, replacing Fiadh. Emily last claimed the top spot in 2019.
In 2021, it was James and Grace that topped the bill for Donegal in terms of the most popular baby names.
In terms of popularity, Éala rose fastest up the rankings in 2022, from 177th place in 2021 to 91st in 2022.
Caption: Most popular baby boy names by county in 2022 with Noah and Charlie in Donegal
In Cavan, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and Fingal, Olivia was the most popular girls’ name.
Muhammad was the most popular boys’ name in Galway City while Oliver was the most popular boys’ name for parents of UK nationality.
Murphy was the most common surname for babies born in 2022 and there were 8,982 distinct new-born names registered in 2022.
Jack and James have been in the top five boys' names since 1998 and both have maintained their position at first and third respectively. Noah remains in the top five in 2022, maintaining its position at 2nd.
Rían was a new entrant to the top five in 2021 and rises one place to 4th in 2022.
Charlie enters the top five for the first time, rising from 7th in 2021 to 5th in 2022. Conor leaves the top five this year, falling from 4th in 2021 to 13th in 2022.
This year Emily has been the most popular name chosen for girls, rising from 3rd in 2021 to 1st in 2022. Grace remains at 2nd in 2022. Fiadh falls two places, from 1st in 2021 to 3rd in 2022. Sophie is the 4th most popular name for the fifth year in a row while Lily rises from 9th place in 2021 to 5th place in 2022, returning to the top five for the first time since 2012.
There were two new entrants to the top 100 for boys: Blake and Cody. Tomás was the name rising most in popularity, jumping from 119th place to 77th between 2021 and 2022.
Caption: Most popular baby girls names by county in 2022 with Emily in Donegal
IRISH BABIES' NAMES 2022
Top 5 Babies' Names in the State: Boys: 1 Jack, 2 Noah, 3 James, 4 Rían, 5 Charlie.
Girls:1 Emily, 2 Grace, 3 Fiadh, 4 Sophie, 5 Lily.
Top Risers 2022: Tomás, up 42 places to 77th place. Éala, up 86 places to 91st place.
New Entries to Top 100: Boys: Blake and Cody. Girls: Hailey, Phoebe, Ayda and Éala.
Name Range: Boys: 4,016, Girls: 4,966
Top Names of 1972: John and Mary
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