The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released the most popular baby names registered in England and Wales for 2025, with Olivia retaining the top spot for girls for the 10th consecutive year and Muhammad leading the boys' list for the third year running.
Girls' Top 10: Olivia, Lily, Amelia Lead
Olivia was given to 2,386 baby girls in 2025, securing first place. Lily climbed into second with 2,249 registrations, displacing Amelia, which fell to third with 2,153. The rest of the top 10 comprised Isla, Florence, Freya, Poppy, Elsie, Ivy, and new entry Isabella.
According to Audacy, Muhammad was recorded 5,957 times, appearing also under alternative spellings: Mohammed ranked 20th and Mohammad 55th. Noah came second with 4,075 registrations and Leo third with 3,278. The boys' top 10 also included Luca, Arthur, Oliver, George, Oscar, Theodore, and Freddie.
Experts Explain Why Top Names Endure
Clare Green, who writes for baby-naming website Nameberry, told the BBC that the persistence of top names follows a predictable pattern. "Change happens so slowly at the top and once a name becomes popular it normally stays there for quite a long time," she said. "Names can build momentum — the more people give their child a name, the more other parents hear it and like the sound of it, so it snowballs."
US-based baby name consultant Colleen Slagen expressed surprise that Olivia had not lost ground, saying she could not believe "there isn't this reverse effect of people wanting something less popular." She noted that parents tend to play it safe when choosing names, explaining that they "get anxious about making a choice that they like, but that is also going to suit their child for the rest of their life." Slagen observed that the top 10 girls' names are "very nicknameable," which she said parents find appealing, and that most share "a very feminine, elegant" quality, with abundant vowels and soft consonants.
New Entries and Biggest Movers
Among the notable new arrivals in the top 100 for girls were Eliana, Gracie, Alba, and Lilah. On the boys' side, Carter, Ruben, Stanley, and Vincent made fresh appearances. Eliana recorded the sharpest climb in the girls' rankings, rising 54 places, while Roman posted the largest gain for boys, jumping 33 positions to reach 27th. Names including Ellie, Amelie, and Jessica dropped out of the girls' top 100 entirely, as did Grayson, Brody, and Bodhi for boys.
Scotland's Separate Data
In Scotland, separate data from National Records of Scotland showed Freya displacing Olivia as the most popular girls' name, while Noah topped the boys' list. Looking ahead, Green suggested vintage names would continue their comeback. "People are looking to the past for fresh ideas," she said, adding that parents generally want a name that allows a child to "stand out just the right amount but not too much."
UK Civil Service Salary Structure
Legit.ng earlier reported that the UK government has published the Civil Service annual salary structure for 2026, showing clear pay scales across seven grades. The UK Civil Service has long been one of the country's largest employers, offering a wide range of roles that support government operations and public services.
