Does anyone know when the 2022 list will be released?

[JessieIsabelle]

I would love to check for the name on our list, but it seems like the list of the most popular names (UK) hasn't been released yet. Does anyone know when? Seems like the last list was released in October 2022 so January 2024 already seems very late.

Unconfirmed, but a Google search suggests not until March.

It's so disappointing as tbh the data will be rendered useless by then. Names could have easily risen or fallen over 50 places since 2022 by March 2024. It will hardly be useful information by then and if anything could lull people into a false sense of security. For example, if they don't want a top 100 name and see when the data is finally released that their name was still outside the top 100 in 2022 they could end up using it, only to find they've actually given their summer 2024 born infant a top 50 name by the time the data for 2024 is finally released (probably in November 2027 at this rate).

I expect to see some astronomical rises in popularity over the coming years, as people have no idea how popular their chosen name currently is right now, just an idea of how popular it use to be 2 years ago.

It's absolutely ridiculous it's so late!!

What's the name? If it is something like Clara or Margot it is probably far more popular than in 2021.

At the moment our top list is: Holly, Grace, Ruby, Ella, Maria.

I’d say you’re pretty safe with those names in terms of them not increasing in popularity. They all (other than Maria) peaked a few years ago and seem to be on a downward trend. I don’t think they are names that are currently ‘on trend’ and may have jumped up the charts.

I have always had a pathological dislike of Maria as they were all complete bitches in school. That said, one of my DD's best friends is called Maria (she's 20) and, after the West Side Story reboot, I've started to kind of love it!

Is there a reason they are peaking? I'm guessing Margot Robbie but Clara? I only ask as they were the 2 other names I almost called my daughter in 2003 and I still don't know any in real life.

I agree with Oliviojam that they all seem pretty stable choices. Obviously we can only guess, without the official data, but I'm not aware of any of those rocketing in popularity right now. Holly is probably falling, the others have been pretty consistent in position for a while now. The only child Marias I know of are Eastern European. If it wasn't for usage among Eastern European immigrants I imagine it would be way out of the top 100 by now.

You have a lovely list. Holly and Ruby are my favourites, Maria least favourite, but overall I don't think you can go wrong.

Clara has benefited from the vintage trend rocketing since the 2010s.

Margot too, it had increased quite a bit in popularity even before Margot Robbie was everywhere. Isn't it the name of one of the girls in Despicable Me too? They all have vintage names and all 3 increased in popularity after the release of the Minion films.

Holly, Grace, Ruby, Ella, Maria.
The first 4 peaked about 15 years ago and are on a downward trend.
Maria is less popular in the UK and is more stable and classic.

I chose Clara as an example because it seems vintage (although the vintage name was said as Clare-a) and it seems to sound quite similar to a lot of other names - Chloe, Zara, Cara, Lara etc. Clare/Claire was massively popular in the 1970s, so Clara might be a nod to a relative.

Cora is another one that's very popular on here.

If you don't mix with many new mothers you won't necessarily be aware of very trendy names. I had no idea that Hallie was so popular, it doesn't even strike me as a name but it's much loved on here.

This website is good for a look at whether names are generally on an upward or downward trend. It's not foolproof with the data not being released, but it might be better than nothing.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#bonnie

@MuddledMadge , the darkgreener site uses the ONS data, so is also out of date, but it does give the general trend.

You need to look at the numbers as well as the graph. Some names are on a very steep upward or downward curve.

In 1998, Chloe was given as a first name to 9628 baby girl in England and Wales.
In 2021 it was at No 52, but with only 932 registered.

In 1998, Olivia was No 16 with 3550 registered, in 2021 in was No 1 with 3649 registered, so the use has remained fairly constant.

Looking at historical data, Ivy was No 168 in 2011 but at No 54 in 2014. From 310 to 1103 in 3 years.

There could be some surprises. The figures released next will be for 2022 so will be out of date anyway.

Oh, I know it's out of date. I was just thinking it would give a quick overview of upwards and downwards trends...More like something to make an educated guess from.

The Netherlands have already released their 2023 list, it’s crazy we don’t even have 2022 yet

@MuddledMadge , it would help OP make an educated guess. What it won't do is show something that has made a massive leap.

Articles that a search for 'top baby names UK' might have a few surprise entries.
Baby names: Most popular boy and girl names of 2023 - CBBC Newsround
Most popular baby names of 2023 | BabyCentre

Not sure how reliable they are, but there are entries on there that I would not have guessed were so popular.

At least with Darkgreener you can check for different spellings (e.g. Mia/Mya/Maya/Maia, Mateo/Matteo or Sophia/Sofia) or something like Teddie/Teddy/Edward/Theodore.

Since the Office of National Statistics aren't releasing the information, an educated guess is the best anyone can do. It is interesting though.

BTW, thanks for the links. I love this stuff so much, I am really frustrated waiting for my baby name statistics fix! I suspect you love it all too. I find it fascinating

Yes, it is fascinating. Sometimes a name seems fresh and new, but lots of parents like it and you get a spike.

If you don't mix with parents-to-be or new parents, you might miss that names are already picking up in popularity.

I don't know a single Arlo and haven't heard it when out-and-about locally. The Baby names in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
shows none registered in my area in 2021, but the name was no. 20 that year.
I had a feeling it was not going to be unusual though.

The Babycentre list is far from reliable. It's just based on registrations on their website so what people claim to have called their baby that year. It's from all round the world, rather than just England and Wales like the ONS data, and will inevitably include pet names and even plenty of fictitious babies no doubt.

For example, they show the name 'Princess' to apparently be comfortably in the top 100, which is far from true. They admit this is likely to be due to people registering their 'little princess' on their system before she's even born, let alone named. If the entry is never updated, she'll forever be 'Princess' on their system which is likely why it's so high in their list. Basically they're admitting themselves that the list is inaccurate bullsh*t :-D

@BoleynMemories13 , many of the baby name sites aren't reliable.

None of them are, as they're just based on collated data from members of that particular website (which may or not be true anyway), rather than actual registered births in a particular country. I only mentioned Babycentre as that was the article the link was for, but NameBerry, Bounty etc they're all the same in terms of reliability. Any website which produces a list of apparently popular names needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

@BoleynMemories13 , Including this one
https://www.mumsnet.com/h/pregnancy-and-baby/baby-names

There's a page on 2024 names there.