NEED WE say it? Sarah once again tops the poll in the names honours list for 1995 for the fifth consecutive year, compiled from the birth announcements in The Irish Times. Rebecca moves from joint fourth last year to second place. David regains the top title for boys, after slipping to fifth place in 1994. Mark edges ahead of James to take second place.
Sean makes the Top List for the first time, while others to reappear after losing a place in recent years include Matthew, Michael, Luke, Thomas and William. Fallen from favour this year are Stephen, Samuel, lain, Brian, Shane and Timothy.
On the girls' honours list there are just two newcomers. Alison makes her debut with an impressive 12, from a mere two last year, and Jessica regains her place. Surprisingly, Aoife, in second place last year, is missing as are Anna, Lucy, Amy, Jennifer, Claire, Ciara and Megan.
Some of the unusual names chosen for girls in 1995 are Cheyenne, Kendra, Farran, Ely, Avila, Woodren and Poppie and for boys, Taymor, Falvey, Caleb, Hareth, Augustus, Aralt, Elwin and Flavien.
The old favourites, however, are missing. There is no Anne, Ann, Brigid, Margaret or Teresa, and only one Mary, though chosen as a second name 25 times
The celebrated and famous seem to have little influence on choice of names. Even the beauteous Princess Diana, so much in the limelight, continues to be completely overlooked Whether there are royal links with the popularity of Sarah (Ferguson ) another estranged British royal bride or not is unclear though mind you, also there is Sophie the name of Prince Edward's constant companion Ms Rhys Jones.
We see, too, the eclipse of the once popular Irish names such as Una, Eithne, Eileen and Nora. However, prospective parents seeking the more unusual Irish names might well consider some of this year's choices with, for girls, Fia, Rhiannon, Liadan, Mide, Shannon and Slaney (can Liffey be far behind?) and for boys, Brocha, Caelan, Devin, Seadna, Arran and Fiach.
Birth announcements in 1995 totalled 1,291 (1,333 in 1994) with boys outnumbering girls by 627 (688 in 1994) to 592 (645 in 994). There were 30 sets of twins including the "Ginger Geminis" Milo Van and Victor Sylvester Aboud, and three sets of triplets.
Lastly we must mention the most splendidly named baby of the year, saluting Devin Carthage Clovis, born on Easter Sunday, 1995, to Linda and Brian O'Shea Farren.
