| 11.5°C Dublin

Close

Premium

Goodbye, Mary and Kevin – why Maeve and Cillian became the world’s coolest baby names for 2023

Once, almost every family had a Mary. Some villages had so many that Marys needed an identifier, like Mary The Rakes or Mary The Ghost. In recent years, we’ve gone for ‘hipster’ Irish names, but what’s behind the popularity of these names abroad?

Close

"Based on the searches of expectant parents, online site Nameberry reckons the Irish name Méabh (or elsewhere, Maeve) will explode in popularity to shoot up to No 2 in the world this year." Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn and Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley in the hit show Sex Education

"Based on the searches of expectant parents, online site Nameberry reckons the Irish name Méabh (or elsewhere, Maeve) will explode in popularity to shoot up to No 2 in the world this year." Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn and Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley in the hit show Sex Education

"In 1821, the top six names account for more than half of all baptisms: John, Mary, William, Michael, Margaret and Ellen." Graphic by Paula Dallaghan

"In 1821, the top six names account for more than half of all baptisms: John, Mary, William, Michael, Margaret and Ellen." Graphic by Paula Dallaghan

"Kevin became the most popular name in every region of mainland France in 1991." Kevin Costner during Bruno v Tyson '96 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc

"Kevin became the most popular name in every region of mainland France in 1991." Kevin Costner during Bruno v Tyson '96 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc

"The predicted No 1 boys’ name in 2023? Kylian, the French variant of Cillian, the Irish saint’s name." Actor Cillian Murphy. Photo: Mireya Acierto

"The predicted No 1 boys’ name in 2023? Kylian, the French variant of Cillian, the Irish saint’s name." Actor Cillian Murphy. Photo: Mireya Acierto

Footballer Kylian Mbappé has what is set to be the most popular boys' name of 2023. Photo: Frederic Stevens

Footballer Kylian Mbappé has what is set to be the most popular boys' name of 2023. Photo: Frederic Stevens

"Even at its most popular in Ireland in 1977, the name Méabh only ranked 79 in our top 100 names. In 2022, she has only just beaten that position, at 70, up from 106 the year before." Irish author Maeve Binchy. Photo: Ian Cook

"Even at its most popular in Ireland in 1977, the name Méabh only ranked 79 in our top 100 names. In 2022, she has only just beaten that position, at 70, up from 106 the year before." Irish author Maeve Binchy. Photo: Ian Cook

/

"Based on the searches of expectant parents, online site Nameberry reckons the Irish name Méabh (or elsewhere, Maeve) will explode in popularity to shoot up to No 2 in the world this year." Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn and Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley in the hit show Sex Education

The world’s largest website devoted to baby names has boldly made its predictions for 2023. Based on the searches of expectant parents, online site Nameberry reckons the Irish name Maeve will explode in popularity to shoot up to No 2 in the world this year.

For context, even at its most popular in Ireland in 1977, Maeve only ranked 79 in our top 100 names. In our most recent records, 2021, she limped in at 106.


Most Watched





Privacy