Carrick to Calgary

Just came across an interesting article on the Beeb about popular baby names. Apparently the top ones in the UK as a whole are Jack and Emily, while we Ulsterfolks go for Jack and Katie instead. The Boys Top Ten (comparing 2004 and 1975) is:

2004------/------1975
1. Jack-----/-----David
2. Matthew-----/-----Paul
3. James-----/-----John
4. Adam-----/-----Mark
5. Daniel-----/-----Stephen
6. Ben-----/-----Michael
7. Ryan-----/-----William
8. Dylan-----/-----James
9. Conor-----/-----Jonathan
10. Jamie-----/-----Robert

Jonathan is no longer in the Top Ten, a fact by which I was shocked, needless to say, although James is holding on well, and Conor makes an appearance.

Top Girls are:

2004------/------1975
1. Katie------/-----Joanne
2. Emma------/-----Karen
3. Ellie------/-----Catherine
4. Sophie------/-----Julie
5. Amy------/-----Sharon
6. Sarah------/-----Mary
7. Chloe------/-----Claire
8. Niamh------/-----Lisa
9. Aimee------/-----Michelle
10. Rachel------/-----Nicola

I know a lot of people with 1975 names, but I've never come across a Dylan, an Aimee, an Adam or a Chloe yet (but it looks like we're going to meet a lot of them in the future!)

Other names popular in our wee province were Caitlin, Aodhan and Aoife. Not sure how to pronounce that second one, answers on a postcard please.

Almost 90% of kids get a middle name now (sparing no expense) and the top second names were: James, John, Joseph, Thomas, Patrick and William & Elizabeth, Louise, Marie, Mary, and Rose. Same names as their mums/dads/grans/grandas, I suppose.

Just keeping our blog up with the latest news worldwide. Next week - the price of butter.

P.S. Have now watched 4 of the 6 episodes of Michael Palin's Himalaya - it's excellent , very highly recommended, and it has lots of DVD-only extras like the mad Dutch cyclists who are biking it over the Himalayas - just nuts!