Jack And Sophie 'Top Of The Tots'

Jack and Sophie were the most popular first names given to children whose births were registered in Northern Ireland in 2010.

These findings are contained in provisional 2010 birth statistics released today by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

Jack has been the most popular boys' name for the last eight years while Sophie has become the most popular girls' name for the first time in 2010.

For boys, Jack has been the most popular name since 2003 although Daniel has climbed from third most popular in 2009 to second most popular in 2010.

James is the third most popular name in 2010 climbing from fourth most popular in 2009.

For girls, Sophie has out-ranked Katie to become most popular girls name in 2010. Katie had been the most popular girls name since 2004 and continues its popularity, ranking second in 2010. Grace remains the third most popular name in 2010.

Noah and Jake are the only new boys' names to enter the top 20 in 2010.

Noah moved from rank 30 in 2009 to rank 11 in 2010 and Jake from rank 21 to rank 19.

For girls Ava, Cara and Lily are new to the top 20 girls' names in 2010. Ava and Cara rose from ranks 24 and 23 respectively to rank 20 in 2010, while Lily rose from 28 in 2009 to rank 19.

Only one of the 1975 top ten boys' names (James) is still in the top ten in 2010, while none of the top ten girls' names from 1975 appear in the 2010 top ten list.

Over the last decade, parents have become more diverse in the first names they have given to their babies. In 2010, there were approximately 2,000 girls' and 1,500 boys' names used; compared with 1,500 girls' and 1,000 boys' names in 2001.

First names like Jack and Sophie are popular for new mothers across all age groups while Dylan and Mia are increasingly popular amongst younger mothers.

In contrast more traditional names such as Oliver and Emma are more popular with older mothers.

(BMcC/GK)