Expect to see a lot more baby Troys, Rorys, Isobels and Kelleys in 2026…
The most popular baby names in Ireland for 2026 are being predicted and we can expect to see some classic Irish names rising up the charts! Sporting stars and TV characters as well as popstars are set to influence the names of babies across Ireland in 2026 according to recent research undertaken by MyNametags.
The baby boy names most likely to see a surge in 2026 include ‘Troy’. It ranked at 655 spot in 2024 in the CSO’s listing but following Troy Parrott’s magic performance and five goals in the last two World Cup Qualifier games for Ireland securing a playoff spot for Ireland for World Cup 2026, it is definitely one that will be on the rise next year!
Keeping with the sporting theme, our Irish golfing stars, Rory McIllroy & Shane Lowry, who both had a major impact in the Ryder Cup this year will no doubt also impact boys’ names choices for 2026. ‘Rory’ ranked at 68 spot in 2024 in the baby names listing while ‘Shane’ ranked at 150 spot. Both names will no doubt move up the baby name chart for boys in 2026.
In relation to girls’ names, the country went mad for the TV programme, The Traitors Ireland which hit Irish screens at the end of August 2025. Kelley from Donegal was crowned the winner in the end and with the name ‘Kelley’ not even making the names list ranking in Ireland in 2024, we predict that it will definitely enter the charts in 2026 following Kelley’s success on this much-loved programme.
Other names that we predict will increase in popularity in 2026 include:
Seamus – after our very own Ireland Football Captain, Seamus Coleman.
Isobel – the book series The Summer I turned Pretty hit TV screens too this year and main character Isobel (Belly) Conklin will no doubt influence the name ‘Isobel’ moving up the baby name rankings from 259 spot in 2024 to much a higher ranking in 2026.
Paudie – Love him or hate him, Paudie Moloney, survived nine episodes as a traitor in the Traitors Ireland. Ranked at 139 spot in 2024, the baby name Paudie will surely see a surge in 2026.
Liam – It was the gig of Summer 2025 if you were lucky enough to secure tickets for Oasis’s comeback tour! The name Liam already ranked highly in the baby names front in Ireland, at 8th spot in 2024, it will likely continue to rise up the baby name listing for 2026.
Cáitriona – Following the major success of long distance runner Cáitriona Jennings from Letterkenny who is now a 100 mile world record holder, we will surely see a lot more baby Cáitriona’s in 2026. The name didn’t even make the rankings listing in 2024 with less than three babies named Cáitriona in Ireland that year so perhaps this Irish classic will see a resurgence in 2026.
Commenting on the research, Lars B. Andersen, Founder and Managing Director of My Nametags.ie, commented, “At My Nametags we have been tracking name trends for over twenty years now and we have seen how parents’ choices are influenced by the media and popular culture in Ireland. 2025 saw a number of Irish sporting heroes emerging as well as popular TV personalities that will no doubt shape the baby name rankings in Ireland during 2026.”
Visit the My Nametags website, www.mynametags.ie, to find out more about My Nametags and their personalised name labels.
