The year 1991 is a sore spot for me, as it was the year I was born, and although I don’t feel like I’m particularly old, my name and the names that my classmates have are certainly considered a little old-fashioned.
There is nothing like having kids and learning the names of their friends to make you feel like you are old. While some vintage names may be coming back into fashion, and they may have a classmate named Mary or Arthur, there probably won’t be many Lisas or Jennifers in the roll call.
In fact, my own name is heading towards extinction, and it was in the top 10 the year I was born. It’s not really a surprise; Louise doesn’t exactly sound like a baby’s name (unless you are in France, where it is still a popular choice), but when I was young, it certainly was.
The Irish name that was only given to three babies last year
One lovely Irish name that was super popular back in 1991 is the name Shauna, and you probably know at least one person with this name. But the name has fallen out of favor in recent years, only being given to three baby girls in 2025.
It is the female version of the name Seán, which still remains a popular pick for parents-to-be, and traces back to the name John, which means ‘god is gracious’.
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Back in 1991, the name was ranked number 17 in popularity, and that was the trend in the 90s. It kind of came out of nowhere too, not even making the top 100 in 1989 and then shooting up to number 30 and then 17 the following year.
The name reached its peak between 1993 and 1996, placing in the top 10, and then began its steady decline. By 2002, it was no longer in the top 20, and by 2012, it fell out of the top 100 after spending a few years in the 80s and 90s.
So, if you are looking for an Irish name for your little girl, would you consider Shauna? It’s unusual yet familiar, the perfect combination when picking the perfect name, if you ask us!
* This article was originally published on EveryMum.ie.
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