Jack And Katie Top Of New Parents' Choices

It's not 'Jack and Jill going up the hill' anymore, but rather Jack and Katie who are the most popular first names given to local children.

They were the two favoured named for babies whose births were registered in Northern Ireland in 2008.

Jack has been the most popular boys' name for the last six years and Katie the most popular girls' name for the last five.

For boys, Jack has been the most popular boys’ name since 2003. Matthew has returned to the top two after being forced to third place last year and Daniel has climbed from fourth most popular name in 2007 to third most popular in 2008.

For girls, Katie entered the top 10 most popular names in 2002, becoming the most popular name in 2004, where it has remained since then. Sophie has moved to second most popular name in 2008 forcing Grace to third place in 2008.

Names increasing in popularity include Lewis, which is the only new boys' name to enter the top twenty in 2008 at rank 19.

For girls, Jessica moved the most within the top twenty, from rank 13 in 2007 to rank fourth in 2008.

Only one of the 1975 top 10 boys' names (James) is still in the top 10 in 2008, while none of the top 10 girls' names from 1975 appear in the 2008 top list.

Over the last decade, parents have become more diverse in the first names they have given to their babies.

In 2008, there were approximately 2,000 girls' and 1,500 boys' names used; compared with 1,500 girls' and 1,000 boys' names in 2001.

(BMcC)