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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

What names do YOU think are popular?

108 replies

cheddaraddict · 28/08/2015 14:30

So, our new arrival is weeks away and I am becoming obsessed with the popularity of the names on our short list... Looking at the latest ONS statistics I'm struck by how it doesn't particularly reflect the names I hear a lot, for example I know no Amelias or Jacks but multiple Irises and Laurences. I imagine it's partially down to geography (I'm in London) but I'd be really interested to know what names you come across a lot among babies/ small children.

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acsec · 28/08/2015 16:48

Alfie
Archie
Harry
Freddie
Charlie

Poppy
Jessica
Amelia

RedToothBrush · 28/08/2015 16:50

Don't pick anything in the top 100. Outside that you'll be fairly safe as long as don't pick something that's partially regionalised in nature like something like Seren and also live in that region.

The top ranking name was shared by 5,327 girls and 6,649 boys in England in Wales in 2014. But rank 100 was shared by 577 girls and 602 boys. You are around rank 250 for less than 200 babies with the same name and about rank 400 for less than 100 babies. So the number of babies goes done very quickly the further down the rankings you go.

The regional differences are massive. There are stats available for the top 100 for England, Wales, Scotland and NI. (There is also a break down by region for England and Wales for the top 10.

Here are a few comparisons - you need to allow for accents for some of these. Each of the numbers relates to rank in the top 100 of that particular region of the UK and doesn't include anything ranked lower than 100:

Carter is in favour in Wales (61) and NI (63), but in Scotland its cousin Carson is more popular (95). There are no 'Car' names in England though.

Allowing for regional accents there are a few different 'Cal' names knocking about. The most universal is Callum, which isthe only one found in England and Wales. However in Scotland you have a choice of spellings - Callum (21) and Calum (75) as well as Callan (80) or even Calvin (94). Over in Northern Ireland the option of Caolan is also on the cards.

Friendly Charlie makes it into the top 10 everywhere but the longer Charles only makes the top 100 in England (62).

Likewise, In NI the less formal Ben (38) is more common than Benjamin. Ben only makes the top 100 elsewhere in Scotland (51). Benjamin is considered best in England (28) and Wales (46).

However its just Sam in England and Wales but Sam and Samuel in NI and Scotland with Samuel being the more favoured.

In England it is most definitely Zachary (41) but in the rest of the country the shorter form of Zac is also an option in Wales and Scotland and Zach (65) is in fact the prefered choice over Zachary (98) in Northern Ireland

Ted might not make it into the top 100 anywhere but curiously its cousins Edward, Teddy, Theo and Theodore have very different fortunes. Edward only makes it in England and Wales. Teddy (66) and Theodore (56) make iit in England alone, but short snappy Theo is popular everywhere.

Finlay (15) is the prefered spelling in Scotland, with the shorter Finn at 63. However the spelling Finley (35) is prefered over Finlay (98) in England and is the only variant in the top 100 in Wales (23). In Northern Ireland on the shorter Finn (40) or the Irish Fionn (58) make the 100.

Harry is most popular everywhere but Scotland where Harris (12) edges it to 14th. Harrison also is in the top 100 everywhere but Harri makes an appearance in Wales (28) and the more formal Henry is in the top 100 everywhere but Scotland.

Logan is popular everywhere, but the similar sounding Lorcan also makes the top 100 in Northern Ireland.

Curiously Rowan makes a sole entry in Wales (74) whilst the similar sounding Ronan is the only entry in Northern Ireland (34).

Welsh Macsen (78) makes it into the top 100 in Wales as well as Max which is popular everywhere. Its is interesting for its similar sound to Mason which also makes the top 100 in all four regions. It is worth noting though, that the combined figures for England and Wales put Macsen way down at 583rd! Which really reflects how much regionalised names are favoured and are concentrated rather than being evenly spread throughout GB and NI.

The more fashionable Lucas come in over traditional Luke everywhere but Northern Ireland which also shuns Luca which makes it into the top 100 in England, Wales and Scotland.

Bobby over Robert in England and Northern Ireland, but Robert (50) over Robbie (77) in Scotland.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 28/08/2015 16:52

Harry
Charlie
Rueben
Oscar
Jacob
Dylan
Alfie
Mason
Reilly

Lily-Mae
Ruby
Isla
Amelia
Evie

Badders123 · 28/08/2015 17:00

My eldest sons name has been in the top 10 for years...
He is now 12 and it's only in the past 2 years he has had a child with the same name in his class.
I don't know of any other kids near here with the same name, either.
My youngest son also has a name in the top 20 - he is the only one of his name at his whole school.
I think - from what I've seen - that names that are popular seem to be either American type names (Blaine, Jayden, Kyle etc) or oddly spelt ae jae, jorja Mae etc

CheesyNachos · 28/08/2015 17:00

around here (South england) the following are the most commonly heard under 5s

Isla
Evie
Katie
Poppy
Holly
Lily
I know two Summers and two Autumns

Josh
Ben
Harry
Alfie
Charlie
Noah

lugo40 · 28/08/2015 19:05

Teddy
Harry

Sophia
Poppy

NadiaWadia · 28/08/2015 19:05

What is it with all the Islas suddenly? I mean the name is OK, but I just don't get why it's so popular. The funny thing is, most of the parents who use it seem to think they are being original.

There are loads of Avas and Alfies. (More than one even within my own extended family). People are a bit sheep-like.

wigglesrock · 28/08/2015 19:11

Under 5s (my youngest is 4 and just about to start school)
Aoife
Katie
Anna
Emma

Dara
Eoin
Ruairi
Ben
These names were all multiples in her nursery school or her new P1 year (I'm in NI)
The name I've heard more frequently for babies in the past 2 years has been Arthur (it seems every one that my husband works with has a baby Arthur)

Ilikethefanta · 28/08/2015 19:15

Harry, Noah, Isabelle/bella and sophie/a

Vixxfacee · 28/08/2015 19:22

Olivia
Isabella
Isabel
Freddie
Jack
Harry
Alfie
Paris

That's just a few of each.I've never known more than 4 of one name.

derektheladyhamster · 28/08/2015 19:23

15 years ago, the 2 girls names we had were Isla & Emilia (quite similar I suppose to Amelia) We had a Jonathan Grin

I was definitely ahead of the game Grin

Vixxfacee · 28/08/2015 19:24

Anaya is so popular as well.

KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth · 28/08/2015 19:26

Popular names near me

Evie
Isla
Henry
Noah
Mia

goldglittershitter · 28/08/2015 19:27

Jacks, Alfies, Archies, Ethans, Isaacs (soooo many Isaacs) n Jacobs.

Evas, Evies, Avas, Maisies, Millies n more Lillies than I can shake a stick at!

NewBallsPlease00 · 28/08/2015 19:28

Archie
Alfie
Oliver
Jack
Lucas

Ava
Isabel /bella/Isobel/Isabella etc
Lola

Marcipex · 28/08/2015 19:30

In the south west
Lily and all the L names with a lot of vowels...Lola Layla Lilia Alaya Iola Ellie Ella Lyra Ayla Orla

And of course Evie

Oliver Reuben Connor Vinnie

NewBallsPlease00 · 28/08/2015 19:30

And also Sophie / Sophia/ safia- know a lot of these under 4

CelestiaLuna · 28/08/2015 20:47

Henry
Oscar

And loads of Isabella/Bella's in my DC school... I use to love this name now I'm just so sick of it.

Mary and Peter... Now they're great names you never hear????

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 28/08/2015 20:58

I thought I read that Mohammed and its variations was the most common baby boys' name last year. In DS's class (15) there are so many boys called Alex that they are called by their last names. A friend called Tom (teacher) had 5 Toms in his class a few years ago. I suppose it depends on the area too.

fabuLou · 28/08/2015 21:01

Thomas, jack, emily, emma, lilly

Aimee01 · 28/08/2015 21:03

Lily -it's driving me nuts

Theo, Alfie, Oliver and Harry I know far too many if these!

My little boy is Ronnie ????

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 28/08/2015 22:01

Aimee-we know a ronnie!

Duplicated names in ds school (primary)

Ben (5 in a class of 28...)
Matthew
Isaac
William
Ted

Evie
Isabella
Emma
Rachel

MamaLazarou · 28/08/2015 22:17

Evie, Maya, Olivia, Lola, Ellie, Isabel, Lily, Amelia.

Oscar, Felix, Harry, Sam, Leo, Hugo, Theo.

palora31 · 28/08/2015 22:24

Archie
Louis
Jacob
William
Finn
Charlie

Eva
Tilly
Iris
Isobel
Ruby
Willow
Lexi

palora31 · 28/08/2015 22:26

I forgot Lily and Olivia!