Ireland Celebrates First Newborns of 2026 Just After Midnight

The first babies of 2026 in Ireland made their entrance just seconds after midnight on January 1. In Dublin, baby Elliot Deak arrived at the Rotunda Hospital, weighing 3.66 kg and born to parents Rachel and Adam Deak from Rathnew, County Wicklow, just 35 seconds after the clock struck midnight.

Approximately 3.5 kilometers away, baby Kash Burke was born at the Coombe Hospital, arriving at 00:02 to parents Rebecca and Keane Burke, who also have an older son, Klay. Shortly after, baby Leo McNamee made his debut at 00:05, weighing 8 lbs 1 oz. He is the first child of Danielle and Troy from Lucan.

Another early arrival was baby Anjali Sivukumar, who was born at 00:06 and is the second child of Ranjitha Sivukumar, a Dublin resident. Other notable births included Laso, born at 01:11 to parents Zilan Aziz and Halo Mohammed, and a baby girl born at 02:25 to Meath couple Eanna Rennicks and Sean Tobin.

According to RTÉ, another early arrival was Millie Elizabeth Kelleher, who was born just 40 seconds past midnight at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin to parents Sally and John from Naas, County Kildare. Millie was one of five babies delivered at the hospital between midnight and 11:00 on Thursday.

As families celebrate the arrival of their new children, a baby naming expert has shared insights into potential naming trends for 2026. Colleen Slagen spoke to PEOPLE magazine, suggesting that parents are leaning towards “short, four-letter names” that feel “effortlessly cool and nickname-proof.” She predicts that names like Indi, Gwen, Lana, and Alba will gain popularity for girls, while boys’ names such as Luca, Rome, Elio, and Dean are expected to trend.

The arrival of these newborns marks a hopeful start to the new year for families in Ireland, as they embrace the joy and excitement that comes with welcoming a new life.