The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed the most popular baby names in England and Wales for 2025. Muhammad was the top name for boys, given to 5,957 newborns, marking a 4% increase from the previous year and its third consecutive year at the top of the list. For girls, Olivia retained its first-place position for the fourth year running.
Lily saw a rise to become the second most popular girls' name, pushing Amelia to third place. Among boys' names, Noah secured second place, followed by Leo. Luca experienced the most significant increase in popularity over the last decade, climbing 49 places to fourth, while Oliver was the biggest faller, dropping five places.
Jude entered the top 100, rising 47 places in a decade, a trend potentially linked to the popularity of England footballer Jude Bellingham.
The name Mohammed, an alternative spelling, first appeared in the ONS top 100 list 100 years ago in 1924. Its prevalence decreased before World War II but began to rise again in the 1960s. The spelling Muhammad first entered the top 100 in the mid-1980s and has shown the fastest growth among its variations since. The name Muhammad, meaning 'praiseworthy,' stems from the Arabic word 'hamad.' The increasing visibility of Muslim communities in the UK, influenced by immigration, and the fame of athletes like Mo Farah, Mohamed Salah, and Muhammad Ali are considered contributing factors to the name's growing popularity.
The ONS reports statistics based on exact spellings, not grouping variations. Royal names continued to decline in popularity, with George ranking seventh and William coming in 25th. Louis was 49th for boys, and Charlotte ranked 25th for girls.
Analysis of baby names indicates a broader range of origins compared to previous decades. While names at the turn of the millennium were predominantly of English, Hebrew, and Latin origin, current top names also include those of Italian, Arabic, Norse, and Scottish-Spanish heritage.