Jack and Emily most popular baby names

CSO statistics reveal five top boys’ names have remained the same since 2007

Jack and Emily held their places as the top baby names registered last year, official figures reveal.

The Central Statistics Office said Jack retained the top position it held since 2007. Some 831 (2.2 per cent) of the 37,210 boys born last year were named Jack. This was 58 more than the number of babies named James - the second most popular name for boys.

Emily also kept the top spot it held in 2011 after coming up the popularity ranksfrom eighth place in 2007 and fifth place in 2008.

Of the 35,015 girls born, there were 626 (1.8 per cent) named Emily. Sophie was the second most popular name for girls.

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Jack, James, Daniel, Sean and Conor were the top five boys’ names last year as they have been since 2007, with only their order changing from year to year.

Last year’s top five girls’ names - Emily, Sophie, Emma, Grace and Lily - hold exactly the same positions they held in 2011.

Emily has been in the top five names in four of the last five years, the CSO said.

There were three first time entries to the top 100 for boys: Isaac, Danny and Logan.

The highest new entry at number 85 was Isaac, which rose from 101st place in 2011.

The name rising most in popularity in the year was Danny - up 22 places from 114th the previous year.

For girls, there were five first-time entries to the top 100: Evie, Amelie, Hanna, Maisie and Rose.

The highest new entry and the name that climbed most places since 2011 was Evie, which  rose 40 places from 124th  in 2011 to 84th place last year.