Muhammad has secured the top position as the most popular baby boy's name in England and Wales for 2023, surpassing Noah. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), over 4,600 baby boys were named Muhammad last year. The name has consistently ranked in the top 10 since 2016, but this marks the first time it has overtaken Noah for the number one spot. However, there is some regional variation: Muhammad did not make the top 10 in three regions of England. The ONS also highlights that different spellings of the name, such as Mohammed and Mohammad, are counted separately, and these variations have also featured in the top 100 names over the years.
In contrast, Olivia continues to reign as the top choice for baby girls, followed by Amelia and Isla, maintaining the same positions as in 2022. Notably, hyphenated names have seen a significant increase in popularity for girls, rising to over 19,000 names in 2023, up from around 12,300 the previous year. Several new names have entered the top 100 for girls, including Lilah, Raya, and Hazel. On the boys' side, Jax, Enzo, and Bodhi made their debut in the top 100.
The ONS notes that pop culture continues to shape naming trends. Celebrities like Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, and the Kardashian-Jenner family have inspired many new parents. Names like Miley, Rihanna, Kendrick, and Elton have seen a rise in popularity, likely due to major album releases, tours, or performances by these stars. Additionally, some parents are turning to days of the week for inspiration, with names like Sunday and Wednesday gaining traction. The popularity of 'Wednesday' could be attributed to the success of the Netflix series Wednesday, which premiered in late 2022.
Seasonal names are also gaining momentum. 'Autumn' made it into the top 100 at 96th place, while 'Summer' jumped 10 spots to 86th, although it remains 38 places lower than its peak in 2013. Some names were more popular depending on the time of year; for instance, Holly, Robyn, and Joseph were more popular in December, whereas names like Summer and Autumn were favored in their respective seasons. Meanwhile, royal names appear to be losing some of their appeal. Names like George, Archie, Harry, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Charles have all seen a decline in popularity in recent years, reflecting a shift away from royal influences.
The ONS also mentioned that the next release of baby name data will be for 2024, with the exact publishing date yet to be confirmed. For a deeper dive into the full set of data, click here.
Source link: https://www.euronews.com
