If you're expecting a baby in 2026 or know someone who is, get ready for a whole new wave of name inspiration. Between Troy Parrott's World Cup heroics, The Traitors Ireland drama and Oasis making the comeback of the decade, next year's baby name charts are going to look very different indeed.
We've all been there, haven't we? Scrolling through baby name apps at 2am while dealing with heartburn, trying to find something that feels just right but not too trendy, Irish but not too obvious, classic but not boring. It's exhausting. But if new research from MyNametags is anything to go by, 2026 is going to see some brilliant shifts in what Irish parents are choosing.
The company has been tracking name trends for over twenty years now and they reckon that sporting stars, TV personalities and pop culture moments from 2025 are about to seriously shake up the baby name rankings. And honestly? Some of these predictions are spot on.
The Boys: From Football Pitches to Hospital Wards
Let's start with Troy. The name ranked at 655th spot in the CSO's 2024 listings, which means hardly anyone was choosing it. But after Troy Parrott's absolutely magic performance with five goals in the last two World Cup Qualifier games, securing a playoff spot for Ireland for World Cup 2026? You can bet there'll be a lot more little Troys running around playgrounds come September.
Then there's Rory and Shane, both getting a boost thanks to our golfing legends Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Their impact at this year's Ryder Cup was massive and Rory already ranked at 68th spot in 2024 while Shane sat at 150th. Both are tipped to climb higher in 2026, which makes total sense when you think about how proud we all were watching them.
Seamus is another one to watch. With Seamus Coleman captaining the Irish football team with such grace and determination, it'd be lovely to see this classic Irish name get more love. There's something so solid and dependable about it, isn't there?
And if you thought Paudie was old-fashioned, think again. Love him or hate him, Paudie Moloney survived nine episodes as a traitor on The Traitors Ireland and made quite the impression. The name ranked at 139th in 2024 but could easily surge next year thanks to all that screen time.
Liam is already sitting pretty at 8th spot in the 2024 rankings but with Oasis announcing their comeback tour for summer 2025 (if you were lucky enough to get tickets, we're all very jealous), Liam Gallagher's influence might push it even higher. There's something brilliantly rock and roll about it.
The Girls: TV Stars and Record Breakers
For girls' names, things are equally interesting. Kelley didn't even make the rankings in 2024, with presumably fewer than three babies given the name that year. But after Kelley from Donegal was crowned the winner of The Traitors Ireland at the end of August? The whole country fell in love with her and the name is definitely one to watch for 2026.
Isobel is another predicted riser. The Summer I Turned Pretty hit TV screens this year and main character Isobel (Belly) Conklin captured hearts everywhere. The name ranked at 259th spot in 2024 but could easily climb much higher as parents look for something pretty but not overdone.
Then there's Cáitriona, a gorgeous Irish classic that barely registered in 2024. But following long distance runner Cáitriona Jennings from Letterkenny becoming a 100 mile world record holder? This one deserves a proper comeback. It's strong, distinctly Irish and has such a lovely sound to it.
What's Driving the Trends?
Lars B. Andersen, Founder and Managing Director of MyNametags.ie, explained it perfectly: "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."
It makes complete sense when you think about it. We're all influenced by the people we admire, the shows we binge-watch while feeding the baby at 3am, the sports stars who make us proud to be Irish. Names carry meaning and when we see someone brilliant doing something amazing, it's natural to want to honour that.
Whether you're drawn to classic Irish names like Cáitriona and Seamus, sporty choices like Troy and Rory, or TV-inspired picks like Kelley and Isobel, the one thing that matters most is choosing something that feels right for your family. After all, you're going to be saying it about 47,000 times a day for the next few years (usually preceded by "get down from there" or "where are your shoes?").
So if you're in the thick of the baby name debate right now, maybe one of these predictions will spark something. And if not? Well, there's always next year's trends to consider.
