Old baby names making a comeback in UK with sweet girl idea entering top 100

17 May 2024 , 12:37

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Some names have entered the top 100 baby names in the UK for the first time (Stock Photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The baby names that are inspiring parents in England and Wales have been revealed in new data - with some surprising findings.

Choosing a baby name is never easy, and while some parents prefer to opt for traditional monikers, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed which ones are surging in popularity.

The data the ONS has just released covers 2022 and is the latest official information about what names parents are going for when it comes to naming their newborns.

While some names have managed to maintain their high levels of popularity from the 2021 data, with Noah, Oliver, and George all staying in the top five for boys' names, and Olivia, Amelia, Isla, and Ava all staying in their positions as the top four girls names, there have also been some entirely new entries into the top 100 for both genders.

For girls, unusual choices like Ophelia, Nova, and Ottilie have entered the top 100 in the newly released data, alongside the names Fatima and Eloise. When it comes to boys' names, Leon, Elias, Musa, Axel, and Ibrahim have all earned spots in the top 100 with their popularity amongst parents soaring.

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Taking the 81st spot for girls is Ophelia - a name famously used in the classic Shakespeare play, Hamlet - which is of Greek origin. This name was more commonly used in the 19th century, and early 20th, per Baby Centre, and has seen a massive resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Ottilie sits just behind Ophelia as the 82nd most popular choice. Nova - a name that was first used in the 19th Century, per the Bump - has also skyrocketed back into use, cinching the 90th most popular spot for girls. Fatima, a name of Arabic origin and used for the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed, has come in at 98, and Eloise sits at 88 - having dropped in popularity a couple of decades ago.

When it comes to boys' names new entry Axel made it jointly to the 100th spot alongside Ibrahim. Leon has nabbed the 95th most popular spot after peaking in popularity back in 2010 and then dropping off for some years - per previous ONS data. Other beautiful boys' names that are becoming more popular with UK parents, are Musa and Elias, which have come into the rankings at the 99th and 95th most popular spots, respectively.

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Emma Mackenzie