A gorgeous Irish girls’ name that was in the top 10 50 years ago is now so unpopular among new parents it was only given to 12 babies in 2025.
The naming landscape in 1976 was very different to what it is now. Back then, Irish names were just as beloved as they are in the 2020s, but the Irish names being chosen by new parents were very different. Names like Sinéad and Deirdre were favoured while the likes of Fiadh and Rían were virtually unheard of.
It’s a shame that some of these names are falling by the wayside, but if history tells us anything, it’s that naming popularity is cyclical, and we are sure they will gain popularity again.
We aren’t sure what makes us feel older: names from our generation going extinct, or our names coming ‘back’ into popularity – but look, that’s life, isn’t it?!
RELATED: One of the most popular baby names in Ireland 40 years ago is now almost unheard of
Name 50 years ago that has fallen in popularity
One Irish name which was once a top 10 name in Ireland has now fallen from grace so much that it was only given to 12 babies last year – and we are sure you know someone with this moniker.
The name is Fiona and it’s actually a lovely choice if you want a familiar but lesser-used name that is still familiar and not too unusual.
It’s an Irish name that means ‘fair’ or ‘white’ and is actually a feminised version of the much more popular name, Fionn.
While Fiona was hardly used last year, Fionn made the top 10, ranking at number six in 2025.
Back in 1976, the name Fiona made the top 10, placing at number 10, and from there it remained popular, placing in the top 20 for years.
It remained popular enough until well into the 90s when it first fell out of the top 50 and then out of the top 100. By the 2010s only a handful of baby Fionas were being born each year and that trend has continued to the most recent statistics available on the CSO.
Maybe next year’s release of Shrek 5 will revive the name!
