Most popular baby names in the UK 2024: popular names for baby girls and boys

It’s not always helpful to follow the crowd. But if you’re trying to narrow down your baby name search, it can be useful to rule out the obvious.

Maybe you want a unique or unusual baby name that will be the only one of its kind in the class register? Or maybe the top 100 baby names for boys and girls are a better fit for you - either way it’s worth checking out, right?

What is the most popular baby name in 2024?

The most popular baby boy name is Noah, while Olivia remains the most popular baby girl name.

Noah has outranked Oliver for the second year in a row. Muhammed also remains super popular, with Theodore, Theo and Freddie entering the top 10.

For girls, Olivia remains the number one choice for families in the UK while Amelia and Isla stay in second and third position.

To help you with your search for the baby name you love the most, here’s our guide to the 100 most popular baby names in the UK this year for boys and girls, using the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data available from babies born in England and Wales in 2022.

What are popular baby names trends for 2024?

Vintage names are still a big trend for 2024, according to the latest ONS stats for 2022 (released May 2024). Old-fashioned girl names Florence and Ava remain in the top 10 for girls while top 10 classic choices for boys are Arthur, Freddie and George. Timeless flower names continue to be popular for girls, with Lily and Ivy staying in the ONS top 10, while Willow, Rosie, Poppy and Daisy aren’t far behind. 

Other popular short names include Luca for boys, which climbed 16 places to number 12, Otis at number 68 after climbing 13 places and Kai at number 72, having climbed 10 places.  For girls, Aria is up 6 places to number 31, Ada has climbed 8 places to number 36 and Ayla is up 16 places to number 51. Oh, and did we mention the A names trend? 

Surname names are also particularly popular for boys right now, with Oakley (56), Hudson (43) and Harrison (45) all climbing up the ONS chart in a year

Popular baby girl names in the UK

1. Olivia - a firm favourite for many years. Of English, Greek, Latin, and Nordic origin, meaning ‘olive’ or ‘olive tree’.

2. Amelia - of Germanic, Greek and Italian origin, meaning ‘industrious’, ‘ever improving’, ‘hard work’ or ‘fertile’.

3. Isla - a popular Scottish baby name. Isla means ‘island’.

4. Ava - of  Latin, Hebrew, and Persian origins, meaning variously, ‘voice’, ‘bird’, ‘water’ and ‘sweet melody’. With all these associations, we can see why it’s a popular choice.

5. Lily - of English and Greek origin, after the flower, which symbolises purity and innocence.

6. Ivy - a name that has climbed over 100 places in popularity in the last few years. Of Old English origin, Ivy appropriately means ‘climber’, ‘climbing vine plant’, or ‘vine’.

7. Freya - of Norse origin. Freya, wife of Odin, is one of the most famous of the Norse gods. If you’re looking for a name rich with mythology, this one's for you! For more Norse name inspiration, see our list of Norse baby names.

8. Florence - of Latin origin, meaning ‘prosperous’, ‘blooming’ or ‘flourishing’.

9. Isabella - of Latin, Italian, and Spanish origin, meaning ‘God is my oath’.

10. Mia - of Scandinavian and Italian origin, meaning ‘beloved’ or ‘the bitter ocean’.

11. Willow - a lovely nature inspired choice of English origin, referring to the Willow tree.

12. Sienna - also gaining popularity in the last decade, Sienna is of Latin origin, meaning ‘from the town of Sienna’.

13. Poppy - of Greek and origin meaning ‘from the flower’.

14. Sophia - of Greek origin, meaning ‘wisdom’.

15. Elsie - of English and Scottish origin, meaning ‘hard worker’.

16. Rosie - of Latin origin, meaning ‘rose’.

17. Grace - of Latin origin, meaning ‘God’s grace’.

18. Millie - a firm favourite, of German origin, meaning ‘hard worker’.

19. Emily - of Latin and Greek origin, meaning ‘industrious’.

20. Sofia - of Greek, Turkish, Polish, Italian, Swedish and Spanish origin. Like ‘Sophia’, meaning ‘wisdom’.

21. Daisy - one of the most popular flower names for girls, Daisy is of Old English origin, meaning ‘day’s eye’.

22. Evelyn - of French and Celtic origin, meaning ‘hazelnut’, ‘life’, ‘bird’ or ‘optimistic’.

23. Evie - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘life’.

24. Phoebe - of Greek and Latin origin, meaning ‘the bright one’. In Greek mythology, Phoebus is the god of the sun. Phoebe is the feminization of this name.

25. Ella - a reliable classic. Of Old English and French origin, meaning ‘beautiful fairy’.

26. Charlotte - of French, Italian, Spanish, German, and English origin, meaning ‘petite and feminine’ or ‘strong’.

27. Harper - an Old English name which has massively grown in popularity, leaping more than 800 places since 2011, when it was a new entry to the top 1000 names, after Harper Beckham was born.

28. Maya - of English, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, and Spanish origin, it means ‘illusion’, ‘fantasy’.

29. Matilda - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘might’, ‘power’, or ‘strong in war’.

30. Ruby - of Latin and French origin, meaning ‘deep red precious stone’.

31. Aria - of Italian origin, meaning ‘song’ or ‘melody’.

32. Penelope - of Greek origin. In the Odyssey, Penelope, wife of Odysseus, cleverly repels suitors by weaving a never ending shroud, unpicking it at night. Penelope is an emblem of cleverness.

33. Hallie - a name of relatively new popularity, of Scandinavian and German origin, meaning ‘dweller at the meadow’, ‘Praise the Lord’.

34. Luna - another one that has seriously grown in popularity. Luna is of Latin origin, meaning ‘moon’. 

35. Bonnie - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘pleasing’, ‘fun’, ‘lively’.

36. Ada - of German origin, derived from ‘Adelaide’, meaning ‘noble’.

37. Emilia - of Latin origin, meaning ‘labour’, or ‘excel’.

38. Alice - a name that has remained consistently popular for girls. Of Germanic origin, meaning ‘noble’.

39. Sophie - of Greek origin, meaning ‘wisdom’.

40. Esme - of French, Anglo-Saxon and Spanish origin, meaning ‘to love’, ‘beloved’ or ‘little loved one’.

41. Isabelle - of Hebrew and French origins, meaning ‘pledged to God’.

42. Maisie - of Scottish, English, and French origin, meaning ‘pearl’.

43. Violet - an English name of Latin origin, meaning ‘purple’.

44. Delilah - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘lovelorn’, ‘seductive’, ‘delightful’.

45. Mila - of Spanish origin, meaning ‘miracles’.

46. Eva - of Hebrew and Egyptian origin, meaning ‘bearer of good news’, ‘giver of life’.

47. Arabella - of Latin and Scottish origin, meaning ‘beautiful grace’, ‘answered prayer’, or ‘lovable’.

48. Maeve - a lovely Irish name, which is growing in popularity and means ‘the intoxicating one’ or ‘she who rules’.

49. Aurora - a Latin name meaning ‘dawn’.

50. Mabel - a Latin classic for girls, with a lovely meaning - ‘dear’ or lovable’.

What Mumsnetters say on the most popular baby girl names

"Sophie/Sophia is pretty much perfect as a name IMO" - Mumsnet user, YouSoundLovely

"Ivy is a revival name" - Mumsnet user, ODFOx

"Ada is a lovely name and fairly popular these days too" - Mumsnet user, Isabellabasil

Popular baby boy names in the UK

51. Noah - staying in the top spot for another year, Noah is of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘rest’, ‘comfort’.

52. Muhammad - a consistently popular name for boys and of Arabic origin, meaning ‘praise’.

53. George - of Greek and Celtic origin, meaning ‘earth worker’, ‘farmer’.

54. Oliver - of Latin origin, meaning ‘elf army’ or ‘olive tree’.

55. Leo - of German, Latin, Japanese, Irish, Romanian and Italian origin, meaning ‘lion’.

56. Arthur - of Gaelic, Latin and Welsh origin, meaning ‘bear’, ‘stone bear’, ‘noble’.

57. Oscar - of Old English, Celtic and Irish origin, meaning ‘dear friend’.

58. Theodore - of Greek origin, meaning ‘God’s gift’.

59. Theo - screeching up right behind the long version, Theodore, is the traditional shortening which is now accepted as a standalone name.

60. Freddie - of German origin, meaning ‘noble ruler’.

61. Archie - another old-fashioned nickname, now popular as a name in its own right. It means ‘bold’ or ‘brave’.

62. Luca - of Greek and Italian origin, meaning ‘the light’, this short but sweet name is a real success story, having climbed 16 places in a year.

63. Henry - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘Estate ruler’, ‘ruler of an enclosure’, ‘home ruler’.

64. Jack - this name with Hebrew and English origins, meaning ‘the Lord is gracious’, has been popular for years although has dropped slightly in popularity of late.

65. Harry -  of Germanic origin, meaning ‘leader’.

66. Charlie - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘free man’.

67. Alfie - of British origin, meaning ‘elf council’,  ‘wise’.

68. Arlo - a name that continues to grow in popularity, and has climbed another two places since last year. Derived from Old English, it means ‘fortified hill’. A great gender-neutral choice for boys and girls. For more names like this, see our list of gender-neutral baby names.

69. Thomas - of Aramaic origin, meaning ‘twin’.

70. Teddy - growing more popular by the year, this sweet Old English name, traditionally a shortening for Edward, means ‘wealthy protector’.

71. Finley - of Irish and Scottish origin, meaning ‘fair haired one’ or ‘fair-haired warrior’.

72. Jacob - an Old Testament name, meaning ‘supplanter’.

73. Tommy - of English origin, meaning ‘twin’.

74. William - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘resolute protector’.

75. Lucas - of Greek origin, meaning ‘bringer of light’.

76. Isaac - the first son of Abraham in the Old Testament, Isaac means ‘one who laughs’.

77. Mohammed - of Arabic origin, meaning ‘praiseworthy’.

78. Alexander - of Greek origin, meaning ‘helper and defender of mankind’.

79. Albie - of Old English origin, it means ‘bright’ and grows in popularity, year on year.

80. Roman - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘strong and powerful’.

81. Edward - of Old English origin, meaning ‘guardian of wealth’.

82. Jude - a cool name steadily growing in popularity. Of Greek origin, it means ‘praised’.

82. Elijah - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘Yahweh is my God’.

83. James - of Hebrew, Latin and Persian origin, meaning ‘supplanting’, ‘seizing by the heel’. It is a variant of Jacob.

84. Joshua - of Hebrew origin, it means ‘God is deliverance’.

85. Reuben - a name steadily growing in popularity. Of Hebrew origin, it means ‘behold, a son’.

86. Max - a diminutive of Maximilian, meaning ‘greatest’. 

87. Rory - of Gaelic and Irish origin, meaning 'red king'.

88. Sebastian - of Greek, French and Latin origin, meaning ‘venerable’  or ‘revered’.

89. Louie - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘renowned warrior’.

90. Adam - of Hebrew and Arabic origin, meaning ‘man’.

91. Mason - of English and Scottish origin, meaning ‘stone worker’.

92. Ethan - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘strong’, ‘safe’, ‘solid’, ‘firm’.

93. Hudson - of Old English origin, meaning ‘son of Hudd’, it’s growing in popularity, having climbed 16 places in a year.

94. Harrison - of English origin, meaning ‘son of Harry’.

95. Ezra - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘help’, ‘aid’ or ‘protect’. It’s climbed five places since last year.

96. Hugo - of Germanic and Portuguese origin, it means ‘heart’, ‘mind’, ‘spirit’. If you’re on the lookout for more ‘swishing around the country pile’ names like this - check out our list of posh baby names. 

97. Louis - of Germanic, French and Greek origin, meaning ‘renowned warrior’. It’s also a popular royal name.

98. Reggie - from Reginald, the Latinisation of the German name Raginwald, meaning ‘king’ or ‘queen’.

99. Joseph - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘to increase’.

100. Benjamin - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘son of the right hand’, ‘son of the South’, ‘favourite’ son’ and ‘life’.

What Mumsnetters say about popular baby boy names

"Haven't heard of a single Jude for years! It's my DH's fave boys name and was always going to be our boys name if we had one (we had a girl)" - Mumsnet user, polkapolkadot

"Lovely name, and such a nice new Pixar film recently too! I also really like Lucas but, if you're Italian, Luca is particularly nice" - Mumsnet user, OrangeAndYellowAndBlue

"My one-year-old has a friend called Hugo and thinks his name is 'Here you go' said quickly. It's the cutest thing" - Mumsnet user, RunningOnHope

How to choose a baby name

What is the coolest baby name in 2024?

If you’re after a cool name for your little trendsetter, there are some uber hip options in the latest ONS charts. Axel, a funky name of German origin, has entered the ONS top 100 for boys for the first time, at number 100, having climbed an incredible 38 places in a year. 

Similarly, brand new entry for the ONS girl name chart Nova climbed 10 places to number 91 this year - it’s a striking name which slots right into the short name trend for 2024. 

Finding the right baby name

Choosing a baby name is a huge pressure for parents, and a decision that isn't (and shouldn't) be taken lightly. Finding a name that suits both your baby, your family and your interests and lifestyle can go a long way to shaping the life of your little one.

We've got guides on all kinds of baby names to help you in your search, including Welsh and Scottish baby names, alongside Norse baby names and even baby names inspired by nature! You'll also find posh, old-fashioned and modern baby names too.

Last but not least, if you're unsure about a name - you can always ask fellow Mumsnetters in oue Baby Names forum.

New baby essentials: what to buy

So you've got the baby name sorted, now comes the easy bit of actually having a baby, right? Well, we'll leave you to find that out for yourself, but to help make things a bit easier, we've researched and tested the best products on the market so you don't have to.

When it comes to newborn essentials, including pushchairs, baby car seats, breast pumps, baby monitors and more, our Swears By recommendations have been rigorously put through their paces by real-life parents to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck.

Celebrating a new arrival? Create your very own Amazon baby wishlist and get 15% off baby items when you spend £200 or more.

About the author

Louise Baty writes parenting content for Mumsnet, producing product round-ups, travel guides and baby name articles. She’s also written content for Mumsnet’s sister site, Gransnet. 

Originally from West Yorkshire and now based in Nottinghamshire, Louise has worked as a features writer for consumer magazines and national newspapers for 20 years. She specialises in parenting and lifestyle features and emotional true life first-person interviews and has authored four non-fiction books on parenting and grandparenting.

Mum to two tweenagers, Louise’s own baby name choosing days may be long gone. However, she admits to having spent a LONG time deciding on her DCs’ names, together with her DP. 

For this reason, Louise has a particular interest in baby names. She understands how difficult it can be to narrow down a short list from your long list of baby names, either during pregnancy or during the sleep-deprived days following the birth of your baby. By compiling comprehensive and easy-to-follow baby name round-ups for Mumsnet, she hopes to provide inspiration and support to parents-to-be who are looking for the perfect name for their baby.