The latest data from the Office for National Statistics has unveiled the most popular baby names of 2024 across England, Wales, and Somerset. Parents continue to favour a mix of classic and modern names, reflecting both tradition and contemporary trends.
For boys, Muhammad remains the most popular name nationwide, with 5,721 newborns given this name in 2024. Noah and Oliver follow closely, ranking second and third with 4,139 and 3,492 babies respectively. The top three names have remained consistent since 2023.
Among girls, Olivia continues to lead as the favourite name for the ninth consecutive year, with 2,761 newborn girls named Olivia in 2024. Amelia, Lily, and Isla are the next most popular choices, with 2,448, 2,185, and 2,056 newborns given these names respectively.
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In Somerset specifically, the top boy names are Charlie, William, Harry, and Oliver, while Isla, Emily, Olivia, and Amelia dominate for girls, highlighting a blend of traditional and trending names within the region.
Name popularity varies significantly across different parts of the country. Muhammad tops the list in regions including the North West, Yorkshire and Humber, the East and West Midlands, and London. Meanwhile, Oliver leads in the North East, Noah is most popular in the East of England and Wales, and Arthur takes the top spot in the South East and South West.
For girls, Olivia is the favorite name in many regions including the North East, North West, East and West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, and Wales. Yorkshire is the exception, where Amelia claims the top position.
Here are the top 20 baby names in 2024:
Top 20 Boys:
- Muhammad – 5,721
- Noah – 4,139
- Oliver – 3,492
- Arthur – 3,368
- Leo – 3,324
- George – 3,257
- Luca – 2,814
- Theodore – 2,761
- Oscar – 2,747
- Archie – 2,575
- Jude – 2,540
- Theo – 2,387
- Freddie – 2,369
- Henry – 2,360
- Arlo – 2,220
- Alfie – 2,020
- Charlie – 1,956
- Finley – 1,886
- Albie – 1,820
- Harry – 1,765
Top 20 Girls:
- Olivia – 2,761
- Amelia – 2,448
- Lily – 2,185
- Isla – 2,056
- Ivy – 1,956
- Florence – 1,936
- Freya – 1,929
- Poppy – 1,888
- Ava – 1,774
- Elsie – 1,727
- Isabella – 1,708
- Sofia – 1,626
- Sophia – 1,610
- Mia – 1,609
- Maya – 1,592
- Bonnie – 1,583
- Phoebe – 1,549
- Daisy – 1,548
- Sienna – 1,537
- Evelyn – 1,512
These trends highlight the evolving tastes of new parents and the cultural diversity influencing baby name choices across Somerset and the wider UK.