Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the 2000s (Ireland)

In Ireland, the most common baby girl names in the 2000s were Emma, Sarah, Aoife, Katie, Ciara — names chosen by more families than any others, ranked by total births.

This ranking is based on total births across the decade, which highlights names consistently chosen year after year — not just short-term spikes. Compare popular girl names in the 1990s for the previous decade.

Quick list of the most popular names

The most common baby girl names in the 2000s in Ireland are listed below, based on total births across the decade.

How the ranking works

This ranking is based on total births for each name across all years in the decade. By aggregating data over a 10-year period, we highlight names with sustained popularity rather than short-term spikes. Names are ranked by total birth count, using national-level data only.

Key insights

Summary of the names with the highest total births:

Top name: Emma with 6,488 births over the decade
#1 share of top 100: 3.6%
Gap #1 vs #10: 1.7x
Gap #1 vs #50: 5.0x
Top 10 share: 27.4% of births in the ranking
Total births in top 100: 181,175

Why these names were popular in the 2000s

-y and -ie endings also featured — playful, familiar, easy to pronounce.

Length: Short names (four or five letters) led — easy to spell and say.

Familiarity and social acceptance: Parents chose widely recognized names — easy to spell and pronounce. Socially safe yet modern.

Broader cultural influence: Media and trends shaped tastes. Names in popular culture often gained traction.

The core set remained at the top: rankings shifted year to year, but the same names dominated the upper tier.

What were common baby names in the 2000s?

The most common baby girl names in the 2000s remained remarkably stable across the decade. While rankings shifted slightly year to year, a consistent group dominated the top positions. Compare popular girl names in the previous decade. For current trends, see fastest rising names; for unique picks, see rare baby names.

Popularity trend over the decade

Over the 2000s, the most popular names remained remarkably stable — the same core dominated the upper tier year after year. New entries emerged in the lower half of the top 100 as trends evolved, but the top 10–20 changed slowly. For how the subsequent decade shifted, see top names in the next decade.

Visual overview

Top 10 by births

Emma

6,488 births

Sarah

6,313 births

Aoife

5,466 births

Katie

5,161 births

Ciara

4,811 births

Sophie

4,599 births

Chloe

4,557 births

Amy

4,400 births

Niamh

3,917 births

Leah

3,841 births

Total births in the 2000s

How the 2000s compare to other decades

The 2000s saw a shift toward simpler, shorter names and softer endings (-a, -y) — a move away from longer, more formal styles. Names became softer and more approachable than in earlier decades. Continuity: many names from the 1990s held on. Change: new options gained ground heading into the 2010s. The decade balanced tradition with a lighter, more modern feel.

How these names compare to today

Compared to today's trends, the 2000s list has aged in different ways. Some styles faded; others endured. For parents weighing a 2000s name today, those still ranking high recently are the safest bets. See trending baby names for what's rising now.

Full ranking

Full list of the top names in Ireland for the 2000s.

#	Name	Births (2000s)
1	Emma	6,488
2	Sarah	6,313
3	Aoife	5,466
4	Katie	5,161
5	Ciara	4,811
6	Sophie	4,599
7	Chloe	4,557
8	Amy	4,400
9	Niamh	3,917
10	Leah	3,841
11	Emily	3,801
12	Ava	3,706
13	Lauren	3,588
14	Rachel	3,534
15	Hannah	3,515
16	Grace	3,502
17	Ella	3,305
18	Caoimhe	3,263
19	Kate	3,259
20	Rebecca	3,183
21	Megan	2,986
22	Lucy	2,891
23	Jessica	2,872
24	Anna	2,807
25	Laura	2,745
26	Roisin	2,424
27	Ellen	2,140
28	Molly	2,138
29	Saoirse	2,101
30	Aisling	2,088
31	Holly	2,073
32	Nicole	2,043
33	Shauna	1,905
34	Mia	1,892
35	Aine	1,753
36	Abbie	1,736
37	Caitlin	1,622
38	Tara	1,601
39	Ellie	1,585
40	Clodagh	1,583
41	Erin	1,522
42	Zoe	1,421
43	Eva	1,400
44	Lily	1,400
45	Eimear	1,357
46	Katelyn	1,344
47	Sinead	1,338
48	Mary	1,316
49	Shannon	1,315
50	Ruby	1,288
51	Abigail	1,267
52	Orla	1,253
53	Olivia	1,177
54	Robyn	1,138
55	Alannah	1,117
56	Jennifer	1,103
57	Isabelle	1,082
58	Aimee	1,074
59	Maria	1,064
60	Eve	1,027
61	Elizabeth	967
62	Jade	963
63	Kayleigh	905
64	Kayla	878
65	Eabha	872
66	Julia	871
67	Sophia	811
68	Cara	798
69	Louise	793
70	Claire	784
71	Aoibhe	775
72	Amelia	774
73	Isabel	755
74	Charlotte	752
75	Sadhbh	741
76	Alexandra	739
77	Amber	739
78	Maeve	729
79	Abby	726
80	Grainne	719
81	Catherine	718
82	Ruth	710
83	Alice	708
84	Kelly	682
85	Michelle	681
86	Zara	674
87	Alanna	672
88	Jane	669
89	Lisa	656
90	Alison	644
91	Danielle	633
92	Jodie	628
93	Faye	626
94	Clara	622
95	Isabella	612
96	Orlaith	610
97	Victoria	602
98	Sara	595
99	Fiona	581
100	Isobel	564

Click any name above to explore its historical ranking, meaning, origin, regional variations, and full popularity timeline.

Interpretation for parents

Stable vs trendy: These names dominated year after year — time-tested, not one-hit wonders. Good for familiar, socially accepted choices.

Popularity vs uniqueness: Higher rank means more births. For something less common, look further down or check birth counts. National data can differ from your area.

How to choose: Top 10 = maximum familiarity. 20–50 = familiar but not overused. Below 50 = more distinctive. For uniqueness, consider trending or rare options. Explore baby names in the previous decade, baby names in the next decade, trending baby names, all-time popular names for more options.

About the data

Data from Central Statistics Office Ireland (CSO). National totals only; no regional breakdown. We refresh as new data becomes available.