While Noah and Grace were the most popular first names given to babies registered in Northern Ireland in 2025, several Irish language names were among the top ten most popular for both boys and girls.

This is according to statistics published on April 16 by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

Grace has remained at the top spot as the most popular girls’ name after placing top in 2024 and after five years at number one from 2018 to 2022. Grace has appeared in the top three most popular girls' names for 20 consecutive years.

Noah has returned to number one after first reaching the top spot (joint) in 2018 and regaining it in 2023. Noah has appeared in the top three most popular boys’ names for nine consecutive years.

Meanwhile, the Irish language name Oisin was among the top ten most popular names for boys registered in Northern Ireland last year, while Fiadh, Aoife, and Meabh were among the top ten most popular names for girls.

Most popular names for baby boys registered in Northern Ireland in 2025:

  1. Noah – 170 Babies
  2. Jack – 150 Babies
  3. James – 135 Babies
  4. Charlie – 123 Babies
  5. Leo – 115 Babies
  6. Oisin – 108 Babies
  7. Theo – 106 Babies
  8. Luca – 104 Babies
  9. Arthur / Jude – 101 Babies

For boys’ names, Jack came in second to Noah. Jack has remained in the top four
since 1998, with 12 consecutive years at number one from 2003 to 2014, and
regaining the top spot again in 2021.

James returned to third place, having been in the top three since 2010, and reaching first place from 2015 to 2020, and in 2022 and 2024.

Arthur entered the boys’ top ten in 2025 for the first time in the series which dates back to 1997.

Leo re-entered the top 10, after appearing in 2018, 2021, and 2023.

The Irish name Oisin was given to 108 baby boys in Northern Ireland in 2025, rising three places from 2024 when it was used for 104 boys. Derived from the Irish word 'os,' meaning 'deer,' Oisin means "little deer." In Irish legend, Oisín was a warrior hero and a poet, the son of Fionn mac Cumhail.

Within the boys’ top 100, the highest climbers in popularity between 2024 and 2025 were Naoise, Conn, Reggie, and Micheal.

Some of the less common names given to baby boys in 2025 were Ace, Bowie, and Phoenix.

Most popular names for baby girls registered in Northern Ireland in 2025:

  1. Grace – 127 Babies
  2. Fiadh – 105 Babies
  3. Olivia – 101 Babies
  4. Isla – 97 Babies
  5. Lily – 96 Babies
  6. Emily – 94 Babies
  7. Annie – 91 Babies
  8. Aoife – 85 Babies
  9. Meabh – 81 Babies
  10. Freya – 78 Babies

For baby girls, Fiadh came in second to Grace, up from third place in 2024. Fiadh
has held a top three position since 2021. The Irish name comes from the word for wildlife, "fiadhúrla."

Olivia came in third, down from second place in 2024. It has remained in the top five since 2015.

Annie re-entered the top 10 in 2025, only appearing in the top 10 once before in 2022.

The Irish name Meabh, who in Irish legend was the warrior queen of Connacht, entered the top 10 for the first time in 2025.

While still popular, the Irish name Aoife, which is believed to derive from the Gaelic word ‘aoibh’ meaning ‘beauty’ or ‘pleasure,' has been declining in popularity in Northern Ireland in recent years.

Within the girls’ top 100, the highest climbers in popularity in  Northern Ireland between 2024 and 2025 were Lainey, Millie, Cassie, and Harper.

As with previous years, there was a greater variety of girls’ names (2,225) than
boys’ names (1,875) registered in 2025. Some of the less common names given to
baby girls in 2025 were Wynter, Zendaya, and Pixie.