The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its annual list of the most popular baby names in England and Wales for 2023, based on birth registration data. Olivia, Amelia and Isla retained the top three spots for girls, while Muhammad moved into first place for boys, displacing Noah from the previous year.
Muhammad has been in the top ten for boys since 2016, but in 2023 it became the most popular name overall, followed by Noah and Oliver. Among girls, Olivia was the top choice in five of nine English regions and in Wales, while Muhammad led in four English regions but ranked only 63rd in Wales.
New entries to the top 100 included Hazel, Lilah, Autumn, Nevaeh and Raya for girls, and Jax, Enzo and Bodhi for boys. The data also reflected pop culture influences: following the films 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer', there were 215 more baby girls named Margot and 14 more baby boys named Cillian compared with 2022.
Musical artists also inspired naming trends, with increases in Billie, Lana, Miley and Rihanna for girls, and Kendrick and Elton for boys. The ONS noted that the top three for girls remained unchanged from 2022, while the boys' ranking saw a significant shift at number one.
