Eliana has knocked Olivia off the top spot as the UK's most popular baby girl name for 2026, ending a 20-year reign, according to new data from pregnancy and parenting platform BabyCentre.
Eliana Takes the Crown
Eliana (pronounced Ellie-Ah-Nah) rose four places to claim the number one position, overtaking Olivia which had held the top spot for two decades. The name, meaning "God has answered," reflects a trend toward meaningful and melodic names with international appeal.
BabyCentre's SJ Strum commented: "It's no surprise to see Eliana reach the top of the charts. Parents are increasingly looking for names that feel special and memorable, that will also grow effortlessly with their child. Eliana captures the ‘Riviera Chic’ mood perfectly: elegant, meaningful and timeless."
Top 10 Girl Names for 2026
- Eliana – #1 (was #5, up 4)
- Olivia – #2 (was #1, down 1)
- Lily – #3 (no change)
- Amelia – #4 (was #2, down 2)
- Isabella – #5 (was #13, up 8)
- Sophia – #6 (was #11, up 5)
- Freya – #7 (no change)
- Poppy – #8 (no change)
- Ava – #9 (no change)
Boys' Chart Highlights
In the boys' chart, Muhammad retained the number one spot for 2026, followed by Noah and Leo. Freddie rose five places to enter the top 10 at number nine. Other notable movers include Rupert (up 110 places), Sarah (up 36), and Valerie entered the charts for the first time.
Top 10 Boy Names for 2026
- Muhammad – #1 (no change)
- Noah – #2 (no change)
- Leo – #3 (no change)
- Luca – #4 (was #5, up 1)
- Theo – #5 (was #4, down 1)
- Oliver – #6 (no change)
- Ethan – #7 (no change)
- Elijah – #8 (no change)
- Freddie – #9 (was #14, up 5)
