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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Lifestyle
Anita McSorley & Neil Shaw

Top Irish baby names set to make comeback thanks to ‘100-year rule’

Joan Ronald Census Findmypast

New research has predicted the top 10 most popular baby names that could make a comeback.

According to experts, baby names can follow a trend that sees them become popular in 100-year cycles, making a resurgence every century.

The findings from family history brand Findmypast are British-based, but using Ireland’s Census we can see which older names could regain popularity here according to the '100-year rule'.

READ MORE: Most popular baby names in Ireland revealed as Jack and Fiadh take top spots for 2021

The research found that in the UK, Joan, Mary and Margaret were the most likely girls names to make a comeback, compared to Ronald, Arthur and Robert for boys.

Commenting on the findings Mary McKee from Findmypast told Wales Online: “History always has a tendency to repeat itself and baby names are no exception. All roads point to Joan as parents are increasingly looking to name their baby girls after strong female historical figures, and who better to take inspiration from than Joan of Arc.

“When it comes to boys’ names, these have a tendency of coming back into fashion but as their nickname equivalent - Frederick becomes Freddie, Archibald becomes Archie and so there is every chance that Ronald could come back into circulation as Ronnie.”

100 years ago was the year 1922, and the Census published closest to that year was in 1911.

According to the 1911 Census John, Patrick and James were the most popular boy names, while Mary, Bridget and Margaret were the most popular girls names - so according to the latest research, they could be about to make a big comeback.

10 most popular Irish girls names in 1911

  1. Mary
  2. Bridget
  3. Margaret
  4. Ellen
  5. Catherine
  6. Kate
  7. Annie
  8. Anne
  9. Elizabeth
  10. Maggie

10 most popular boys names in 1911

  1. John
  2. Patrick
  3. James
  4. Michael
  5. Thomas
  6. William
  7. Joseph
  8. Edward
  9. Daniel
  10. Peter

READ MORE: These were the most popular baby names in Ireland forty years ago

READ MORE: Traditional names Neil and Ann are close to extinction in Ireland

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