Here they are - the latest stats on the most popular girls' Irish names!
I've also added trends and some interesting names from the top 100 rankings.
And who's new in the top 100?
There's not much movement in the girls' 2006 top ten.
There are eight stayers in the top ten, as Amy and Chloe bow out of the top spots. New in are Ava and Grace.
The top three places are still held by the same three little girls, although they've shuffled rankings a little.
To help you, I have given the name followed by the pronunciation where necessary.
Sarah Moving up another place since last year - and Sarah is back where she was in 2001 and 2002! She's featured in the top five baby names since 1998, and her name means "princess" in Hebrew.
Emma Down from top ranking last year, Emma is taking a rest from being three years at number one. Like Sarah, she has also enjoyed top five ranking since 1998. Her name means "whole" or "all-embracing."
Katie Katie remains in third place, and it looks like she's given up her quest for top spot. Her name means "pure."
Aoifeee-fah A former number one, whose name speaks of "beauty" or "joy", Aoife moves up one place from last year.
Sophie Up two places, Sophie remains a popular choice. This name means "wisdom."
Ava The fastest mover in the top ten, Ava has shot up twelve places from eighteenth last year, reflecting the name's popularity growth in the US. This name could come from the Hebrew name Eve, "to breathe" or "to live."
Grace Another energetic girls Irish name, Grace has moved up seven places this year.
Ella Ella continues her rise up the Irish baby name rankings, up two from last time. Related to the Greek name Helen, which could mean "torch" or "moon."
Leah It's Leahs' third year in ninth place, and doesn't seem to want to get much further. The Hebrew name means "weary" which could explain why!
Ciarakee-rah Ciara drops four places, having reached number three in 2002. Her name means "very dark brown."
Pearls from the top 50 Irish girls' names
Here are some wonderful choices from a little lower down in the Irish baby name charts.
Niamh neeve Niamh drops five places to 18th spot in 2006. This girls Irish name refers to "radiance".
Caoimhe kee-va A word meaning "beauty" or "grace. And it's a beautiful name - literally. There are connections with the boy's name Kevin, or Caoimhin kee-vin which means "beautiful at birth." You may opt for the simpler spelling of Keeva if you wish - but don't those extra letters express so much more... Caoimhe is currently in 15th position.
Roísín rosheen Another fab girls' Irish name, meaning "little rose." As a noun, it simply refers to something that comforts you. Rising four places to number 23 in 2005, 2006 sees this young lady moving down four places to 27.
Aisling ash-ling Aisling is a word that refers to a "vision" - this time of a beautiful lady who appeared in a dream and haunted the mind of the dreamer forever after. Up three places this year to rank at 28.
Saoirse seer-shuh This name means "freedom." Rising in popularity this year by seven places, she ranks at 29.
Clodagh cloh-da The name of a river in Tipperary, Clodagh rises two places to 40th spot. Shannon is another girl's name that uses a river as its inspiration.
Eimear ee-ma Of uncertain meaning, although Eimear could be connected with the word for "twin." A different source says the name could mean "swift." Another spelling of the same name is Emer - who dropped out of the top 100 again this year. Eimear is in 48th place, losing a little popularity since last year.
And from lower down in the top 100 girls' names in Ireland
More suggestions from the top one hundred girls' Irish names, these exotic choices could give you some great baby name ideas:
Eabha ay-va The Irish form of Eve, referring to "breath" or "life." Currently ranking at 60th place.
Aoibhe ay-va Similar to the name above, although the word is also connected in Gaelic with the meaning of "beauty" or "radiance." This name reminds us of Aoife, in the top ten girls' Irish names mentioned above. She's jumped another nine places this year to rank 55th, so moving up fast in the charts.
Orlaith or-la This name refers to a "golden lady" and might also be interpreted as "gold thread." Up five places again this time round to number 73.
Sadhbh sigh-ve (rhymes with "five") Meaning "good" or "sweet". In Irish legend, Sadhbh was turned into a deer, then resumed her human form and married. She became pregnant - then turned back into a deer - and had a child, Oísín, which means "little deer"! She was gaining fast in popularity - up from number 86 in 2004 to rank 73rd in 2005 - but down in 2006 to rank 76th.
New entries into the top 100
Eight entries into the top 100 Irish baby name charts in 2006, so let's welcome:
Faye
Aoibheann ayvon, eve-een or eve-in - and with the same pronunciation as...
