Irish: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#13,864

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Irish

How common

1 in 267,878

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1960

45 babies

All-time total

1,608

#5,820 all-time among girls

First recorded

1924

in Social Security records

Irish popularity over time

1,608 babies have been named Irish since 1924, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	32	5	37	4	–	#3,387
1930s	64	–	64	6	+73%	#2,730
1940s	109	5	114	11	+78%	#1,983
1950s	243	20	263	26	+131%	#1,819
1960s	283	19	302	30	+15%	#1,798
1970s	163	–	163	16	-46%	#2,734
1980s	155	–	155	16	-5%	#3,250
1990s	121	5	126	13	-19%	#5,492
2000s	146	38	184	18	+46%	#5,665
2010s	101	39	140	14	-24%	#8,381
2020s (to 2025)	36	24	60	10	-29%	#7,039

The story of Irish

Irish is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #13,864 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1924, 1,608 American babies have been named Irish, about 90% girls and 10% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1960, when 45 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Irish stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Irish?

The median living Irish is about 48 years old; half are between 24 and 64. An estimated 1,400 people named Irish are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Irish year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	6	#13,864	–	–
2024	–	–	5	#13,027
2023	9	#10,657	–	–
2022	–	–	7	#10,213
2021	5	#16,195	5	#12,861
2020	16	#7,039	7	#9,955
2019	8	#11,787	5	#12,894
2018	7	#12,995	6	#11,314
2017	9	#11,047	–	–
2016	10	#10,390	–	–
2015	8	#12,273	8	#9,065
2014	13	#8,660	8	#9,104
2013	13	#8,763	–	–
2012	14	#8,381	–	–
2011	9	#11,550	5	#13,049
2010	10	#10,726	7	#10,078
2009	17	#7,471	–	–
2008	10	#11,103	8	#9,320
2007	12	#9,781	5	#13,090
2006	17	#7,271	8	#9,031
2005	13	#8,520	11	#6,814
2004	15	#7,559	6	#10,468
2003	13	#8,179	–	–
2002	12	#8,485	–	–
2001	20	#5,665	–	–
2000	17	#6,302	–	–
1995	11	#7,713	–	–
1990	12	#7,034	–	–
1985	15	#4,934	–	–
1980	26	#3,250	–	–
1975	12	#4,962	–	–
1970	26	#2,734	–	–
1965	23	#2,562	8	#3,095
1960	40	#1,798	5	#4,298
1955	25	#2,185	–	–
1950	16	#2,600	–	–
1945	8	#3,502	–	–
1940	12	#2,481	–	–
1935	6	#3,961	–	–
1930	5	#4,858	–	–
1925	–	–	5	#4,550
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Irish, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Irish?

The median living Irish is about 48 years old. Half of all living Irishs are between 24 and 64 years old.

How many people named Irish are alive today?

An estimated 1,400 people named Irish are alive in the United States, based on 1,608 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Irish mean?

From Middle English Irish (12th c.), from Old English *Īrisċ, from Old English Īras (“Irishmen”), from Old Norse Írar, from Old Irish Ériu (modern Irish Éire (“Ireland”)), further origin heavily debated but probably from…

How popular is the name Irish in 2025?

Irish ranked #13,864 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Irish?

1,608 babies have been named Irish in the United States since 1924, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Irish most popular?

Irish peaked in 1960, when 45 newborns received the name.

Is Irish a boy or girl name?

Irish is used for both: about 90% of babies named Irish have been girls and 10% boys.

Is the name Irish rising or falling?

Irish is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Irish

Names that sound and feel close to Irish: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Irish with similar names → More names starting with I →