The most popular baby names of 2021

Choosing a name for your baby is something most parents-to-be will spend time thinking about long before the arrival of their bundle of joy – and there are a lot of things to consider. You may choose names with family ties, or you may prefer a name simply because it sounds nice. Some parents prefer gender neutral names, and some prefer names with strong meanings.

You may have been compiling an extensive list long before you were pregnant or you may only begin thinking about names during pregnancy. Of course, there’s a special shout out to the parents who scrap the name they had planned altogether, after taking one look at their newborn!

With a wealth of names to choose from, we have compiled a list of 25 popular baby names to date, in addition to some trends to inspire you. We have also included a list of names chosen by us for our little ones if you’d like some further inspiration!

Trends in 2021

The name Lily stole the crown as the top girls name this year, followed by Amelia, Sophia and Olivia.

It seems Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also following the trend this year (or perhaps they are setting the trends!) after naming their daughter Lilibet, and adorable moniker after her great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II – calling her ‘Lily’ for short.

And the royal influence doesn’t stop there, with Archie, Harry, George and Louis making an appearance in the top 25 names for boys.

The popularity of a name can largely depend on what it can be associated with

According to data released by Office for National Statistics (ONS), the girls’ name Alexa decreased in popularity from 2016 after the introduction of the Amazon Alexa in the UK, when there were 332 girls named Alexa, to just 39 girls with the name in 2019.

In contrast, popular culture continues to influence the popularity of baby names. One name that has seen a rise in popularity is the girls’ name Dua. The English Popstar Dua Lipa had her first UK number one single in 2017, during which there were 63 girls named Dua. This figure doubled to 126 in 2019 following her rise to fame!

Trends come and go depending on generations

Looking back to 1996, when detailed annual rankings of baby names first became available, we see baby names go through the motions. Some rise in popularity, some fall and some disappear completely. 20 years ago, the girls’ name Kerry were moderately popular, ranking 136th in 1996. However, fast forward to 2019 and there were two or fewer children given this name.

Variations and adaptations

Other options to look at are shortened or adapted versions of popular names such as Theo, Evie, Freddie and Tilly. It looks as though these shortened versions are on the rise, establishing a modern twist to more traditional, classical names.

Whether you prefer timeless names like Arthur and Amelia, or more contemporary names like Luna or Leo, the below list covers a variety of names sure to inspire you.

The most popular names of 2021 -so far!

Girls:

1. Lily
2. Amelia
3. Sophia
4. Olivia
5. Ava
6. Isla
7. Rosie
8. Aria
9. Freya
10. Ella
11. Emily
12. Mia
13. Isabella
14. Ivy
15. Hannah
16. Layla
17. Grace
18. Sophie
19. Evelyn
20. Evie
21. Isabelle
22. Elsie
23. Luna
24. Poppy
25. Willow

Boys 

1. Oliver
2. Noah
3. Theo
4. George
5. Charlie
6. Leo
7. Harry
8. Freddie
9. Jack
10. Arthur
11. Archie
12. Finley
13. Henry
14. Jaxon
15. Louie
16. Lucas
17. Thomas
18. Alfie
19. Oscar
20. Ethan
21. Isaac
22. Jacob
23. Elijah
24. Max
25. Joshua

 

We have also included a list of baby names chosen by our mums here at Mum & You for their little (and big) ones!

 

Girls:

Ava

Caitlin

Camila

Evelyn

Isabella

Jessica

Lucia

Martha

Nandini

Rose

Sophie

Tilly

 

Boys:

Ben

Bharat

Leo

Lewis

Reuben

Ross

Simon

 

We hope these names have inspired you. Maybe you’re still set on your chosen first name, but there are plenty of options for middle names!

We’d love to know what names you have chosen for your children in the comments below!

 

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