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Top baby names in England and Wales announced: Is your moniker in fashion?

The most popular baby names list has been released [Photo: Getty]
The most popular baby names list has been released [Photo: Getty]

Just yesterday we told you about the baby names no parents were choosing, but now we have news about the monikers appearing at the other end of the popularity spectrum.

And there has been some movement at the top of the most popular baby names list.

Oliver and Olivia have been crowned the most popular baby names with Olivia ending Amelia’s five-year reign at the top for girls.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), who compiled the data, said Olivia had reclaimed the top spot it had previously held between 2008 and 2010.

Oliver has been the most popular boys’ name since 2013 and managed to hold onto the naming crown as the most popular first name given to newborn boys in England and Wales in 2016.

The results, published today, were based on names parents had given on their babies’ birth certificates in 2016.

There were six new entries into the top 100 most popular boys’: Albie, Arlo, Ezra, Finn, Jasper and Jesse. These replaced Callum, Connor, Jamie, Kian, Seth and Sonny, which were in the top 100 in 2015.

Meanwhile, the girls saw four new entries into the list: Felicity, Iris, Luna and Lydia. These took the place of Bethany, Hollie, Katie and Lacey.

The celebrity influence also seemed to have had an influence with Harper, the name chosen by David and Victoria Beckham for their daughter, now six, has seen the biggest spike in popularity over the previous ten years.

In 2011, the year Harper Beckham, was born, there were 42 girls with the name in England and Wales. Fast forward to 2016 and the name has become the 44th most popular girls’ name, given to 1,256 babies.

While, Zayn, formerly of One Direction, has also climbed up the popularity ladder with 296 boys given the name in 2016 compared with just 255 the year before.

And seeming to prove the prediction that parents were naming their offspring after Game of Thrones characters, there were 302 Aryas in 2016, up from 280 in 2015.

There has been some movement on the most popular baby names list [Photo: Pexels]
There has been some movement on the most popular baby names list [Photo: Pexels]

Other notable movement in the naming list saw Muhammad replace William in the top 10 names for boys and Poppy dropping out of the top 10 for girls, making way for the ever popular Lily.

Jaxon, is now the 51st most popular boys’ name, being given to 1,161 babies in 2016, and jumping a huge 682 places up the list in the past ten years.

Arlo saw the biggest rise among boys names in the past year, jumping 53 places to number 49.

Equally, Luna, climbed 52 places to number 78 for girls, possibly thanks to Chrissy Teigen and John Legend who chose to give the moniker to their daughter.

Commenting on the findings a spokesman for the Office for National Statistics said: “With over 696,000 babies born in England and Wales in 2016, and nearly 64,000 different names chosen for them, it’s interesting how relatively stable the top 10 names have been over recent years.”

“Olivia replaced Amelia as the most popular name for girls in 2016, returning to the top position it previously held between 2008 and 2010. Oliver remained the most popular name for baby boys born in 2016, having held the top spot since 2013.”

“It is as you move down the rankings that you begin to notice social and cultural changes being reflected in name choices.”

“Harper was the girls’ name in the top 100 in 2016 with the biggest rise in popularity over the previous 10 years, whilst for boys it was Jaxon.”

Wonder how the list will go down with grandparents who aren’t loving the choice of names parents are picking for their grandchildren?

Top 10 girls’ names in England and Wales

  1. Olivia – 5,017

  2. Amelia – 4,777

  3. Emily – 3,551

  4. Isla – 3,476

  5. Ava – 3,285

  6. Isabella – 2,729

  7. Lily – 2,722

  8. Jessica – 2,703

  9. Ella – 2,702

  10. Mia – 2,662

Top 10 boys’ names in England and Wales

  1. Oliver – 6,623

  2. Harry – 5,284

  3. George – 5,263

  4. Jack -4,751

  5. Jacob – 4,485

  6. Noah – 4,305

  7. Charlie – 4,190

  8. Muhammad -3,908

  9. Thomas – 3,898

  10. Oscar – 3,894

For the full list visit ONS

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