The name Andrew has fallen to its lowest popularity on record in England and Wales, with only 125 babies given the name in 2025, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released on Thursday. The name now ranks 334th, tying with Zorawar, Walter and Hussain.
Historic Decline for a Once-Popular Royal Name
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, has seen his first name suffer a dramatic fall from grace. In 1964, during the decade of his birth, Andrew was the third most popular boys' name. It remained a top 100 choice through the 1970s and 1980s. However, numbers have been sliding for years, particularly following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke lost his military roles amid ongoing scrutiny.
When the ONS began detailed annual tracking in 1996, there were 2,676 Andrews registered, placing it 29th. Last year's tally of 125 represents a stark reversal. The shortened form Andy fared even worse, with only 21 babies given that name – the lowest since 1998.
Other Royal Names Perform Better
Other senior royals fared better in the rankings. William climbed two places to 25th with 1,456 registrations, while Charles held steady at 119th. Camilla saw a notable surge, with 66 babies named after the Queen, up sharply from just four the previous year.
Top Names and Trends for 2025
The ONS data, drawn from birth registrations covering 585,396 live births, reveals broader shifts in naming preferences. Muhammad retained its crown as the most popular boys' name for the third consecutive year, with 5,957 registrations (rising to 9,227 when spelling variations are included). It comfortably outpaced Noah in second. Leo entered the top three, replacing Oliver which slipped to sixth.
For girls, Olivia extended its remarkable run as the top choice for the 10th year in a row, with 2,386 registrations. Lily and Amelia followed, with Isla, Florence and Freya rounding out the top six. New entries to the girls' top 100 included Eliana, Gracie, Anaya, Alba, Marnie, Lilah and Frankie. For boys, Vincent, Carter, Stanley and Ruben made their debuts.
Names Nearing Extinction
Some names edged closer to extinction. Nigel held firm with five registrations for the third year running, while 18 Donalds were recorded – the highest since 2015. There were no Beths for the first time on record, and no Bonnie-Blues for the first time since 2015. Keir, the name of the Prime Minister, also drew a blank for the second year running.
The ONS figures underscore how public perception and cultural shifts can influence even the most historic of names. For Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once near the pinnacle of British nomenclature, it represents yet another public setback.
