Top 10 most popular baby names for boys in Ireland and what they mean
By Brendan McDaid
Published 17th Jun 2024, 16:44 BST
Updated 17th Jun 2024, 18:16 BST
The ten most popular boys’ names for children born in Ireland last year included some surprises, showcasing the revival in parents opting for gaelic names. But what do those names mean?
Here we present the top ten boys’ names from 2023 with some detail about their origin.
Just missing out on the top ten names chosen for baby boys were the first names Finn, Conor, Charlie, Seán, Michael, Leo and Theo.
The name Cillian has its origins in the early Christian church in Ireland, often believed to have derived from the County Cavan born missionary Saint St Kilian, who travelled to Europe in the 7th Century. 'Cille' is often a name associated with church sites in ancient Ireland and many towns and villages across Ireland have it incorporated in their name (Kildare, Kilkenny). Pictured is Irish actor Cillian Murphy, winner of the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for 'Oppenheimer' poses in the press room during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)Photo: Rodin Eckenroth
And for the number 10 spot we have one that is a bit of a conundrum and could have its origins here or back in the Middle East with the name Daniel being of Hebrew origin, but the name McDaniel being of Irish origin (Dhomhnuill). It may mean God is my judge or beautiful. If you're a Daniel, take your pick! Pictured is Irish actor Daniel Day-Lewis on stage during The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Official Academy Screening of Phantom Thread at MOMA on December 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Lars Niki/Getty Images for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)Photo: Lars Niki
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