Monday, December 31, 2007

Top ten pick of the names in 2007

Another post that was written a week or so ago, but then turkey and Christmas pudding got in the way!

It’s silly season, and while most shops are winding up to the sales and most offices are winding down to the annual party, government statistics agencies across the UK have been compiling their lists of top ten baby names. Since the year’s not yet over [at time of releasing their press releases] the analysis covers the period from January to early-December 2007.

Top names for girls in 2007 in Northern Ireland / Scotland / England+Wales

There are strong regional differences. Not a single girl’s name Only Sophie makes it into the top ten for all three reported regions (NI, Scotland, England + Wales). [Thanks Ruth!]

And if you mine further into the Northern Ireland figures and look across the five Health and Social Services’ boards, Aoife and Caitlin only make it into the Western Board’s top five and miss out on the overall top ten.

Top names for boys in 2007 in Northern Ireland / Scotland / England+Wales

The full list containing 2007’s top 100 names won’t be published until next summer. But if 2006’s anything to go by, Alan won’t make it into the top 100.

Sources:

4 comments:

ruthEbabes said...

Sophie appears in all 3 regions. Wonder where Laura comes in the list?

And I'm not surprised by Jack being very popular, there have been lots of new baby boys in church over the past year where Jack has appeared somewhere in their name.

Alan in Belfast (Alan Meban) said...

Thanks for noticing Sophie - fixed.

In Northern Ireland, Laura was 43rd in 2006 and 42nd on 2005. 77th place in 2006 in Scotland. In England, Laura dropped from 66th in 2003 to 96th in 2006 and outside the top 100 in 2007 in England.

Re: jack - they only sample the first names.

Alan in Belfast (Alan Meban) said...

Oh ... and Ruth doesn't seem to make it to the top 100 in any of the three areas.

tEST said...

I saw the movie "The Holiday" with Jude Law and his daughters' names were Olivia and Sophie. I thought the names list was cool.