Every year, thousands of parents in England and Wales make a decision that will stick with their child for life: what to name them. In 2025, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded 585,396 live births, and once again Olivia topped the girls' list for the tenth consecutive year, while Muhammad held the top spot for boys for the third year running. But how do names become popular, and what drives parents to pick a Lily over an Amelia?
The annual baby name data from the ONS is based on birth registration records from the previous calendar year. For 2025, the top three girls' names were Olivia (given to 2,386 babies), Lily (2,249), and Amelia (2,153). For boys, Muhammad led with 5,957 births (1.4% of all boys), followed by Noah and Leo. Leo pushed Oliver out of the top three. The top 10 names accounted for 9.1% of all births that year, and the rankings count exact spellings separately, so variations like different spellings of Muhammad are not combined.
“Explains how baby names become popular, using 2025 ONS data.”
Experts point to a slow-changing dynamic at the top. Clare Green, who writes for baby-naming website Nameberry, told the BBC that "change happens so slowly at the top and once a name becomes popular it normally stays there for quite a long time." Names build momentum: the more parents choose a name, the more others hear it and like it, creating a snowball effect. But US-based baby name consultant Colleen Slagen expressed surprise that Olivia remained number one, noting that while baby names can be "like other pop culture trends," parents tend to be risk-averse. "Parents get anxious about making a choice that they like, but that is also going to suit their child for the rest of their life," she said.
Slagen observed that top girls' names are "very nicknameable," letting parents give a child a "CEO name" for adulthood and a playful short form for childhood. She also noted that most top girls' names are "very feminine, elegant names... with a tonne of vowels and soft consonants." In contrast, unisex names are more popular in the US, but in the UK parents still lean towards definitively feminine names for girls.
New names entering the top 100 in 2025 included Eliana, Gracie, Anaya, Alba, Marnie, Lilah and Frankie for girls, and Vincent, Carter, Stanley and Ruben for boys. The biggest climbers were Eliana (up 54 places), Anaya (up 24), and Alba (up 24) for girls; and Vinnie (up 33), Ruben (up 26), and Vincent (up 25) for boys. Dropping out were Jessica, Ellie, and Amelia (which fell in rank but remained third overall) for girls, and Bodhi, Grayson, and Brody for boys.
Regional variations exist: Olivia was most popular in three of nine English regions and in Wales, while Muhammad was top in four English regions but ranked 34 in Wales. In Scotland, Freya replaced Olivia as the most popular girls' name, while Noah held the top spot for boys, according to National Records of Scotland data.
Q: Why do baby name trends change so slowly at the top? Family naming consultant Clare Green explains that once a name becomes popular, it tends to stay popular because familiarity breeds further adoption. Parents hear a name repeatedly and it feels like a safe, appealing choice, creating a snowball effect that can last years.
Q: Which baby names are rising fastest in popularity? In 2025, Eliana saw the biggest jump among girls, rising 54 places to enter the top 100. For boys, Vinnie rose 33 places, reflecting a trend towards short, nickname-like names. Other fast risers include Anaya, Alba, Ruben, and Vincent.
Q: What makes a baby name go out of fashion? Names can drop off the top 100 when they feel dated or become associated with an older generation. For example, Jessica fell 44 places and Ellie fell 31 places in 2025. Slagen notes that parents avoid names that feel too common or that no longer fit current tastes.
The next set of ONS baby name data for 2026 will be released in mid-2027. Meanwhile, parents can expect continued stability at the top for Olivia and Muhammad, with new entries like Eliana and Vinnie gradually climbing. The long-term trend suggests that while the top names can hold for a decade or more, fresh influences from pop culture, celebrity, and a desire for uniqueness will keep the list evolving.