New analysis of a decade of birth data for England and Wales has revealed which baby names are growing in popularity fastest, with celebrity and TV-inspired choices among the biggest risers.
The experts at JoJo Maman Bébé calculated each name's average annual growth rate using ONS birth data, identifying the most consistently rising names for boys and girls.
Celebrity and TV-Inspired Names Surge
Dua is growing by 22.8% a year, likely helped by the global success of singer Dua Lipa, while Daphne (+20.4%) has climbed since the release of Netflix's Bridgerton. Otis (+15.7%), the name of the lead character in Sex Education, has also become an increasingly popular choice.
The data also suggest parents are looking beyond traditional British favourites. French name Maeva has topped the girls' list with annual growth of 69.1%, while Irish favourite Maeve follows at 47.5%. On the boys' side, French name Remy (+15.9%) and Italian name Enzo (+14.3%) are also climbing the rankings.
Traditional Names Make a Comeback
Traditional names continue to be very popular, with Mabel given to 1,527 baby girls in the latest ONS data and Winnie to 416. Boys' names Otto and Kit are also among the fastest risers, showing that old-fashioned favourites are firmly back in fashion.
Anne Varsanyi, Head of Buying at JoJo Maman Bébé, said: "Choosing a baby's name is one of the first opportunities parents have to express something about their family, whether that's honouring tradition, celebrating heritage or simply choosing a name they love."
"What's particularly fascinating about this year's data is seeing how quickly tastes can change. Some names that once filled classrooms have become increasingly rare, while others that were barely heard a generation ago are now among the country's favourites."
Fastest-Rising Baby Names
Fastest-rising baby names for girls: Maeva, Maeve, Raya, Dua, Ayra, Nova, Daphne, Mabel, Winnie, Ottilie.
Fastest-rising baby names for boys: Oakley, Remy, Otis, Hudson, Axel, Luca, Enzo, River, Otto, Zion.
