The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its annual list of the most popular baby names given to newborns in Wales in 2025, compiled from birth registration data. Across the country, Olivia and Noah retained their positions as the top names for girls and boys, respectively.
Top Names Across Wales
For girls, Olivia was the most popular name, with 140 newborns registered with that spelling. It was followed by Lily (116), Elsie (106), and Mali (104). Olivia has been the leading name for baby girls in Wales since 2024, and has dominated for most of the 2000s to 2020s, with a brief dip in 2023 when Isla took the top spot.
For boys, Noah remained the clear favourite, with 218 newborns given the name. Luca came second with 186, followed by Theo (176) and Arthur (169). Noah has been the most popular boys' name annually since 2020, maintaining the top position for six consecutive years.
The rankings are based on the exact spellings recorded at birth registration, so similar names with different spellings were counted separately.
Local Authority Breakdown
The ONS also released the most popular names for each local authority area in Wales. Here is the full list:
- Isle of Anglesey: Girls: Olivia; Boys: George, Theo, Tomos
- Gwynedd: Girls: Nansi; Boys: Guto
- Conwy: Girls: Olivia; Boys: Arthur
- Denbighshire: Girls: Amelia, Elsi; Boys: George, Luca
- Flintshire: Girls: Elsie; Boys: Luca
- Wrexham: Girls: Aurora, Freya, Mila; Boys: Albie
- Ceredigion: Girls: Efa; Boys: Noah, Osian
- Pembrokeshire: Girls: Maeve, Mali; Boys: Arthur
- Carmarthenshire: Girls: Mali; Boys: Noah
- Swansea: Girls: Lily, Mali, Olivia; Boys: Theo
- Neath Port Talbot: Girls: Harper, Olivia; Boys: Noah
- Bridgend: Girls: Mila; Boys: Rowan, Theo
- Vale of Glamorgan: Girls: Florence; Boys: Arthur
- Cardiff: Girls: Olivia; Boys: Muhammad
- Rhondda Cynon Taf: Girls: Lily; Boys: Luca
- Caerphilly: Girls: Mali; Boys: Theo
- Blaenau Gwent: Girls: Mabel, Mali; Boys: Arlo
- Torfaen: Girls: Elsie; Boys: Noah
- Monmouthshire: Girls: Ava, Olivia; Boys: Arthur
- Newport: Girls: Evelyn, Harper, Millie; Boys: Muhammad, Noah
- Powys: Girls: Olivia; Boys: Alfie, Arthur
- Merthyr Tydfil: Girls: Harper; Boys: Luca, Noah, Tommy
Trends and Observations
The data shows that traditional names like Olivia, Noah, and Arthur remain popular across many areas, while Welsh-language names such as Mali, Nansi, Guto, and Osian feature strongly in certain regions. In Cardiff, Muhammad topped the boys' list, reflecting the city's diverse population. The ONS list highlights both national trends and local preferences across Wales.
