The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its annual ranking of the most popular baby names in the UK, based on birth records from 2025. For girls, Olivia continues to hold the top spot, followed by Lily and Amelia. For boys, Muhammad retains the number one position for the third consecutive year.
New Entries Signal Shift Towards Vintage Names
Several new names have entered the top 100, including some with a distinctly old-fashioned feel. For girls, Marnie, Eliana, Gracie, Anaya, Alba, Lilah, and Frankie have made their debut. For boys, Vincent, Carter, Stanley, and Ruben are new additions.
Marnie originally emerged as a shortened version of Margaret and gained popularity in 1964 following Alfred Hitchcock's film Marnie. Despite its vintage, retro feel, increasing numbers of parents in the UK are now choosing this sentimental name for their daughters.
Parent Reactions on Mumsnet
Parents on Mumsnet's parenting forum shared their thoughts on Marnie. One commented: "It's a nice choice, but if it was me, I would use Marina, Maren, Maria, Margaret, and use Marnie as the nickname." Another parent noted: "I had always thought it was an old lady name - every old lady seems to be called Margaret." A third added: "My nana is called Margaret too, and I'd love to use her name for a little girl. For me, it's a bit too old-fashioned, but I'd use Maggie or Peggy."
Margaret has been used since medieval times and topped the charts as England's most favoured girl's name during the 1920s and 1940s.
Top 10 Boy's Names
- Muhammad
- Noah
- Leo
- Luca
- Arthur
- Oliver
- George
- Oscar
- Theodore
- Freddie
Top 10 Girl's Names
- Olivia
- Lily
- Amelia
- Isla
- Florence
- Freya
- Poppy
- Elsie
- Ivy
- Isabella
