KEY POINTS
- Muhammad and Olivia remain the most popular baby names in England and Wales for 2024.
- Muhammad was given to 5,721 boys, while Olivia topped the girls’ list with 2,761 new arrivals.
- Noah and Oliver followed Muhammad, while Amelia and Lily rounded out the top three for girls, replacing Isla.
- Three spelling variants of Muhammad — including Mohammed and Mohammad — all ranked in the top 100.
ISLAMABAD: Muhammad and Olivia have topped the list of most popular baby names in England and Wales for 2024, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Muhammad led the boys’ chart for the second year running, while Olivia continued to top the list among girls’ names.
Alongside these timeless favourites, the naming charts also unveiled a curious parade of originality, where names like Awesome, Everest, and Poem quietly made their debut.
For boys, Muhammad held firm at the top of the leader board for the second consecutive year, bestowed upon 5,721 bouncing newborns.
Not far behind, Noah and Oliver rounded out the top three – replicating last year’s podium without a single shake-up.
The enduring charm of these names continues to resonate across maternity wards and playgrounds, a testament to their staying power.
Girls’ names saw a subtle twist. Olivia once again claimed the crown as it has nearly uninterrupted since 2006 — with 2,761 girls receiving the name in 2024.
Amelia clung to second place, but former bronze medallist Isla bowed out, making room for the floral favourite Lily, which bloomed into the third spot.
The rankings were determined with laser-like precision, with each name counted by its exact spelling, a crucial distinction that saw three separate versions of Muhammad break into the top 100.
While Muhammad took the top spot, Mohammed secured 21st place and Mohammad came in at 53rd.
The data also revealed fresh arrivals in the top 100, including Eloise, Athena, Nora, and Zoe for girls, and Austin, Nathan, Vinnie, and Yahya for boys.
Meanwhile, royal names took a modest tumble: George ranked sixth and William slid to 27th, a quiet dethroning in a post-royal-frenzy age.
Nature names continued their gentle ascent, with Lily, Poppy, and Ivy all flourishing in the girls’ top 10.
The list’s delicate greenery contrasted sharply with some of the more flamboyant outliers among the least-used names, including Cuthbert, Crispin, Orchid, and the strikingly aspirational Awesome.
These rarities, used fewer than five times, highlight a bold spirit of individuality among some parents, ones who clearly took the road less travelled down the baby-naming path.
And while not every child will be named after a flower, saint, or historical figure, the sheer range of choices reflects a nation where tradition and creativity continue to cradle each other.
