Trends in baby names come and go, just like fashion. What was once in is now out, and the cycle continues. This year, history is repeating itself, as last year’s most popular girls’ and boys’ names have once again claimed the top spot.
According to BabyCentre, which tracked the top 100 boys’ and girls’ baby names in the UK throughout 2024, Olivia and Mohammad have retained their positions as the most popular names among BabyCentre parents. Most of last year’s top ten names also made a comeback, with only a few exceptions.
The boys’ top ten remained almost identical to 2023, with Archie making the biggest move, climbing two places to land at number 15.
However, the girls’ names switched things up a bit, as Lily moved into third place, while Isla moved to fourth, Grace climbed three places to land at the number six spot and Sophia moved one place to number seven. Freya and Ivy both moved down two spots eight and nine.
Outside the top ten, Ryan made the most dramatic leap among boys’ names, soaring 12 places to reach number 53. On the girls’ side, Emma and Ariella saw the biggest gains, each climbing 13 places, with Emma landing at 76 and Ariella at 84.
There were some dramatic shifts in the opposite direction with Jaxon and Austin losing favour as boy’s names and Lucy and Nova moving out of the top 100 for girls.
Parents have turned toward more glamourous sounding names such as Margot and Gabrielle for girls while short and long versions of names such as Theodore, Theo and Teddy for boys.
This shift aligns with a broader trend previously identified by McCrindle, which found that traditional names are making a strong comeback in Australia. Each year, Australian states release lists of newly registered baby names, revealing a nationwide preference for “the classics.”
According to the organisation, Oliver was the most popular boy’s name while Charlotte was the most popular girl’s name. For boys, names like Noah, Leo, Henry, and Jack were back in the top ten. For girls, there was a rise in names such as Matilda, Amelia, Ella, and Grace.
Parents in Queensland and New South Wales showed a preference for the longer names on the list. Victorian parents displayed a preference for shorter names like Jack, Leo, Isla, Mia, and Ava. The Northern Territory however bucked the trend, with parents preferring more unique names like Xavier and Sadie.