The top baby girl names and top baby boy names in England and Wales have been revealed for 2026. Muhammad and Olivia remain the top baby boy and girl names in England and Wales, according to the latest ONS data. There was no change at the top of either list this year. The list was recorded by the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) from baby name data captured in 2025, the latest full year of recorded UK births.
Overall Trends With Baby Names In England And Wales
- The name Muhammad is the most popular name for boys in the UK for the third year in a row, and was given to 5957 boys (an increase from 5674 in 2025).
- Olivia remained the top baby girl name for the 10th year in a row, and was given to 2386 baby girls (a decrease from 2624 in 2025).
- For boys, parents continue to opt for classic, timeless names, with traditional choices such as Arthur, George and Charles rising in popularity. Short, modern names like Leo, Luca, Rory and Jude are also popular. There is an increasing trend towards greater diversity, with Muhammad retaining the top spot for the third consecutive year.
- For girls, classic, feminine and elegant names dominate the list, with the ongoing popularity of names like Olivia, Amelia, Isla and Grace. Short and soft names are popular, as well as vintage-inspired favourites like Elsie.
Changes To The Top 10 Baby Names In The UK
Here are the current top ten names for boys in England And Wales:
- Muhammad
- Noah
- Leo
- Luca
- Arthur
- Oliver
- George
- Oscar
- Theodore
- Freddie
Key Insights Around England And Wales Top Ten Baby Names For Boys:
- The boy name list reflects the ongoing popularity for classic, royal and religious-inspired names for boys including Muhammed, Noah and George. Short, two syllable names are popular and half of the top ten have a double syllable count, including Leo and Luca.
- There was no change in the top two names, with Muhammed and Noah taking first and second place again.
- Leo, Luca and Oscar gained places, while Arthur, Oliver, George and Theodore declined slightly in popularity.
- Freddie was the only new entry, at number ten (replacing Archie). This reflects the trend towards diminutive, or nickname names, as a given name, including Leo (vs longer forms Leonardo and Frederick).
Here are the current top ten names for girls in England And Wales:
- Olivia
- Lily
- Amelia
- Isla
- Florence
- Freya
- Poppy
- Elsie
- Ivy
- Isabella
Key Insights Around England And Wales Top Ten Baby Names For Boys:
- The list reflects the ongoing popularity of classic and feminine favourites such as Olivia and Amelia, as well as the trend towards floral names – Lily, Poppy and Ivy – as well as vintage choices including Florence.
- While there was no change at the top, the second most popular name is now Lily (replacing Amelia).
- The names Florence, Freya, Poppy and Elsie all increased in popularity. Isabella was a new entry in the top ten at number 10, replacing Ava which dropped out of the top ten.
New Entries To The Top UK Baby Name List
When it comes to new entries for the top 100 baby boy names, names included:
- Vincent
- Carter
- Stanley
- Ruben
- The new entries for boys reflect the continuing trend towards vintage-inspired names, with Vincent and Stanley making a comeback.
- It also highlights the growing influence of international names, such as Carter, which is particularly popular in the US, alongside alternative spelling choices, such as Ruben as a variation of Reuben.
For girls names, new entries to the top 100 list included
- Eliana
- Gracie
- Anaya
- Alba
- Marnie
- Lila
- Frankie
- The new entries for girls reflect several key naming trends, including the rise of unisex names such as Frankie, the enduring appeal of vintage choices like Marnie, and the growing popularity of international names such as Eliana, Anaya and Alba.
- Short and sweet names continue to resonate with parents, with many of the rising choices featuring two syllables.
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