Choosing a name for your newborn is a significant decision, and for those seeking inspiration, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its latest list of the most popular boys’ and girls’ names in England and Wales.
Reflecting data from the previous year, the latest announcement showcases the top baby names for 2022, offering insights into naming trends and preferences.
For the second consecutive year, Noah secured the top spot as the most popular boys’ name, while Olivia maintained its reign as the top choice for girls for the seventh consecutive year.
Among the noteworthy changes, Isabella entered the top 10 names for girls, replacing Willow, while Theodore, Theo, and Freddie replaced Harry, Archie, and Henry in the boys’ top 10.
Regionally, Muhammad emerged as the most popular boys’ name in four out of nine English regions, while Olivia remained dominant for girls across all English regions and Wales, except in London, where Amelia claimed the top spot.
In 2022, several new entries graced the top 100 list for both boys and girls, including Leon, Elias, Musa, Axel, and Ibrahim for boys, and Ophelia, Ottilie, Eloise, Nova, and Fatima for girls. Conversely, names like Charles, Harvey, Ollie, Nathan, Beatrice, Anna, Holly, Heidi, and Amber dropped out of the top 100.
Welsh-origin names featured prominently among the popular choices in Wales, with Mali, Seren, and Eira among the top 50 for girls, and Arthur, Osian, Elis, Harri, and Jac among the top 30 for boys.
The top 10 boys’ names for England and Wales are as follows:
- Noah
- Muhammad
- George
- Oliver
- Leo
- Arthur
- Oscar
- Theodore
- Theo
- Freddie
The top 10 girls’ names for England and Wales are as follows:
- Olivia
- Amelia
- Isla
- Ava
- Lily
- Ivy
- Freya
- Florence
- Isabella
- Mia
James Tucker from the Office for National Statistics commented on the findings, noting the consistency of Noah and Olivia’s popularity, along with the emergence of new entries like Theodore, Theo, and Freddie in the boys’ top 10, and Isabella in the girls’ top 10.
The release of the latest baby name data provides valuable insights for parents-to-be navigating the process of selecting a name for their newborn, offering a glimpse into current naming trends and preferences across England and Wales
