Estonia registers 745 births in September

Estonian civil registry offices recorded 745 births in September, including 330 girls and 415 boys, ERR reports. That was fewer than the 794 births registered in September last year, according to the Ministry of the Interior’s Population Operations Department.

Eight sets of twins were registered: three pairs of boys, two pairs of girls and three mixed pairs. Tallinn recorded 283 births, Harju County 110, Hiiumaa County two, Ida-Viru County 41, Jõgeva County 15, Järva County 14, Lääne County seven, Lääne-Viru County 20, Põlva County 14, Pärnu County 44, Rapla County 22, Saare County 17, Tartu County 95, Valga County 19, Viljandi County 24 and Võru County 17. One birth was registered for a person without a place of residence in Estonia.

The most popular girls’ names were Mia, given to 13 girls, followed by Marta and Saskia, with seven each, and Sofia, with six. Hugo was the most popular boys’ name, given to 13 boys. Karl was chosen for 10, while August and Lennart were each given to eight.

There were 466 marriages in September, including 25 conducted by notaries and 19 by clergy. A total of 262 marriages ended in divorce, 46 of them processed by notaries. In September last year, 463 marriages were registered and 264 ended in divorce.

September also saw 1,185 deaths, compared with 1,241 in the same month last year. A new name was granted to 223 people: 35 changed their first name, 174 their surname and 14 both. The group included 161 women and 62 men. Last September, 143 people received a new name.

The department said birth trends are a long-term process and are not affected by monthly fluctuations.