Northern Irish Mums, which names do you hear all the time?

[Mumtobe193]

Hi ladies,

So I'm currently pregnant with DC 2 and trying to find a name me and DP both love by isn't overused.

I know the popularity of certain names can vary massively depending on the area you live in. I've only lived in NI for a short while, and what might be a massively popular name back home might not be as popular over here and vice versa. Don't want to veto a name that I absolutely love on the premise that my child might be one of ten children in their school wth that name when it might not necessarily be the case at all. Having had a chat with some of the girls at work about baby names for a bit of fun, it seems we have very different ideas about what's overused and what's not.

So which baby names do you hear all the time in Northern Ireland? Any in the top 10 list that you actually don't hear all that often over here?

Thanks x

Congratulations on your baby news OP. As a fellow NI mum to be I shall follow this thread with interest.

Common names Ive heard recently
Boys
Charlie
James
Jack
Ben
Oliver
James
Noah
Harry
Jake

Girls
Emily
Grace
Amelia
Olivia
Charlotte
Sophie

Names are in no particular order although Charlie and James seem to be everywhere for boys.
Hope that helps, comes from my experience of friends/colleagues and people I hear of and what they've called their little ones.

Lots of Avas, Graces, Chloe’s, Emily’s, Olivia’s, Maebhs, jacks, Adams, David’s, Mathews, Conor’s, eoin’s, ollies, Harry’s.

Depends where you are- we live in a vair naice village which is something like 94% Protestant (relevant), and when discussing DD's very Irish name my health visitor said "Well, to be honest it's nice hearing a name that isn't bloody George or Teddy" so I'm guessing those are pretty popular around my way!

We don't hear of many Cillians or Saoirses round here, but my mate from west Belfast says they're everywhere near him!

I've an Evan..the only one I know

I wanted Sebastian or Jasper - exDH said no 

Never hear any of them

See I like the name Isla bit put of by the fact it's so high in the top 100, suggested it to my DP (who is northern Irish) and he looked at me like I had 3 heads, asked me where I'm pulling all these obscure names from, lol, which I thought was and odd reaction as it's actually no.4 on the top 100 list? Maybe it's just because he's a bloke and doesn't pay much attention to baby's names, but when I think about it I've not heard of one little Isla since I've lived here?

Do any of you ladies know of any little Islas?

Another name that I really like is Oscar, again bit put off by the fact that it's quite high up in the top 100. Still, I haven't heard of any little boys named Oscar since I've lived in NI. Do you hear it much?

@BabyLamasinPyjamas I love Sebastian! It's probably my absolute favourite boys name but unfortunately my DP isn't keen on it either. If it does actually grow on him in the future I would absolutely use that name, good to hear you don't really hear of it much! Also love Evan, so cute, good choice.

@Mumtobe193

Isla is fairly common - I love in Co Antrim and work in Belfast (posh bit..)

Work on the Sebastian 😍 I just love it not enough to have another baby though

Oscar is fairly common too - especially if you walk your dog around Stormont Estate/park..

@BabyLamasinPyjamas Ah right, maybe I just haven't came across any little Islas yet?

Funnily enough when I suggested the name Oscar to my DP he said 'hmmm, it's more of a dogs name' lol, maybe he's right, (still really like it though)

And believe me I'll work on him with Sebastian, but he's so stubborn!

Here will give you the top 100 baby names for Northern Ireland

www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/births/baby-names

People tend to be much much less adventurous with their name choices here.

Biblical and traditional names are still very popular, and people seem to be more keen on family names and naming traditions than across the water.

Freddie & Theo seem to be popular in the baby/toddler groups I go to along with Evie/Eva. Lily seemed to be ridiculously popular a few yrs ago. Also plenty of Harry, Jack & Oliver’s.

@PennyMordauntsLadyBrain yeah that seems to be accurate based on the people I know, people do seem to like a good traditional name.

I really like Irish names too, I wanted to name my first DD Orla, but again, partner vetoed it, so not even gonna try going there again if this baby is a girl, lol. I think to my mind that name sounded really quirky because growing up in England I never knew of any Orlas, whereas my DP knew a few of them. But then I suppose it depends where you live like you say.

@SuperstarDj I've definitely heard of a few Evas, Evies and Avas over here aswell, lots of Jacks and Jakes too. All lovely names, I can see why they're popular, but just not my cup of tea

Lily seemed to also be extremely popular in England a few years ago too