Most popular baby names UK 2024

Where do you start with picking a baby name?

pregnant tummy covered in post-it note with baby names on them

Choosing a name for your baby can lead to hours of research and pondering, but of course it does, because it’s an important decision to make as a parent. Being responsible for a name that will last throughout your child’s life can make this process intimidating, but there are some tips and tricks that can make this an enjoyable and fun experience for all the family.

With all the choices available you might feel overwhelmed to start with, especially if you are leaving the sex of your baby a surprise. We recommend first off you need to decide if you are looking for a name within a certain category (like a religious name or maybe a name from nature, mythology or a specific time in history). Or you may want to pick a name that is unusual - one which won’t get called out in the playground alongside your child’s.

You might be keen to pick from a list of gender neutral names so whether you have a boy or girl you have the name sorted. Unisex names also give your child the freedom to identify with their name however they choose. Or maybe, like many parents-to-be, you want to pick from a list of the most popular names of 2024. There really is no right or wrong. A top tip is to decide on a couple of categories, pick through the list and choose your top 10.  Sit with these names for a few weeks – or months even – you may well find you keep going back to the same one. If that doesn’t work though – try a new category. If this still leaves you unsure which baby name is right for you, don’t stress too much – it may just be that you’ll need to wait until your baby is born and you look into their eyes, before you know the perfect name.

To help get you started we’ve listed the top 30 most popular girl and boy names for 2024. Plus the top 30 unisex names. We’ve also listed some of the most unique boy and girl names. We hope this helps set you on your way!

parents writing a list of baby names

Most popular girl names 2024

Often the meaning of a name helps you pick it out, so we’ve summarised each name in the table below

Name Meaning
1 Olivia olive or olive tree
2 Amelia industrious, ever improving, hard work or fertile
3 Isla island
4 Ava voice, bird, water and sweet melody
5 Lily named after the flower, which signifies innocence
6 Ivy climber, climbing vine plant, or vine
7 Freya wife of Odin, one of the most famous of the Norse gods
8 Florence prosperous, blooming or flourishing
9 Isabella God is my oath
10 Mia beloved or the bitter ocean
11 Willow taken from nature and the elegant Willow tree.
12 Sienna from the town of Sienna
13 Poppy from the flower
14 Sophia wisdom
15 Elsie hard worker
16 Rosie rose
17 Grace God’s grace
18 Millie hard worker
19 Emily industrious
20 Sofia wisdom
21 Daisy day’s eye
22 Evelyn hazelnut, life, optimistic
23 Evie life
24 Phoebe the bright one
25 Ella beautiful fairy
26 Charlotte petite and feminine or strong
27 Harper harp player
28 Maya illusion, fantasy
29 Matilda might, power
30 Ruby deep red precious stone

Most popular boy names 2024

Name Meaning
1 Noah rest or comfort
2 Muhammad praise
3 George earth worker, farmer
4 Oliver elf army or olive tree
5 Leo lion
6 Arthur bear, stone bear, noble
7 Oscar dear friend
8 Theodore god’s gift
9 Theo like Theodore god’s gift
10 Freddie noble ruler
11 Archie bold or brave
12 Luca the light
13 Henry ruler
14 Jack the Lord is gracious
15 Harry leader
16 Charlie free man
17 Alfie wise
18 Arlo fortified hill
19 Thomas twin
20 Teddy wealthy protector
21 Finley fair haired warrior
22 Jacob supplanter
23 Tommy twin
24 William resolute protector
25 Lucas bringer of light
26 Isaac one who laughs
27 Mohammed praiseworthy
28 Alexander helper and defender of mankind
29 Albie bright and grows in popularity, year on year
30 Roman strong and powerful
  

The official list of baby names is generated from the Office of National Statistics. And more info on popular baby names can be found on mumsnet.

Popular unisex baby names

1. Angel 16. Arden
2. Ariel 17. Carter
3. Ashley 18. Casey
4. Aubrey 19. Eden
5. Avery 20. Frankie
6. Alex 21. Skylar
7. Charlie 22. Alexis
8. Dakota 23. Landry
9. Riley 24. Robin
10. River 25. Wren
11. Rowan 26. Pheonix
12. Amari 27. Onyx
13. Jordan 28. Moss
14. Alexis 29. Lowen
15. Ali 30. River

Rare Girl names

1. Pheby 16. Blithe
2. Hermia 17. Bonne
3. Hedley 18. Ourania
4. Dova 19. Tracey
5. Vincentina 20. Jinnie
6. Patte 21. Emeraude
7. Lisbeth 22. Jolanda
8. Mairead 23. Clotilde
9. Parmelia 24. Joylin
10. Claudelle 25. Kirbie
11. Arlys 26. Lue
12. Prudy 27. Charee
13. Gertrudis 28. Kerena
14. Arcadia 29. Donielle
15. Diella 30. Wicahpi

Rare Boy Names

1. Arlo 16. Finn
2. Arrow 17. Fox
3. Asher 18. Jagger
4. Atlas 19. Jax
5. Axel 20. Kairos
6. Boden 21. Kian
7. Bodhi 22. Knox
8. Blaze 23. Koa
9. Cassius 24. Remy
10. Cade 25. Rocco
11. Cairo 26. Ronin
12. Cruz 27. Neo
13. Creed 28. Soren
14. Enzo 29. Zane
15. Everest 30. Zander

 

Happy baby name hunting! X

 

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