British Baby Names With Meanings (2025 UK List)

These are 300 of the most popular baby names in the UK today, 150 for girls and 150 for boys, with what each name means, where it comes from, how to say it in British English and the nicknames that go with it. Every name is in the official top 200 for babies born in England and Wales in 2025, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). We checked every meaning against Behind the Name, an etymology reference, and where scholars are not sure what a name means, we say so instead of guessing.

Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own lists, so we have added their 2025 top names too. There is plenty of choice, from royal classics like George and Charlotte to fast-rising old favourites like Mabel and Rory.

Jump to: girl names · boy names · nicknames · what is rising · Scotland and Northern Ireland · how to choose · pronunciation · how we chose · questions · sources

Girls by rank: No. 1–57 · No. 58–124 · No. 125–186
Boys by rank: No. 1–52 · No. 53–109 · No. 110–170

Top 10 baby names in England and Wales, 2025

Girls: Olivia, Lily, Amelia, Isla, Florence, Freya, Poppy, Elsie, Ivy, Isabella

Boys: Muhammad, Noah, Leo, Luca, Arthur, Oliver, George, Oscar, Theodore, Freddie

Source: Office for National Statistics, baby names in England and Wales, 2025 births. Olivia and Muhammad were also No. 1 in 2024.

Want to shortlist? Our free Baby Name Finder lets you filter popular names by girl or boy, first letter or meaning (try “flower” or “strong”), save favourites on your phone and share a shortlist with your partner.

British girl names with meanings

Listed in order of 2025 popularity in England and Wales. The number is the name’s rank for girls; “say” is a simple sound-it-out guide in a standard British accent, with the stressed part in capitals. Tap “source” to read the full history of a name.

For scale: Olivia, the No. 1 girls’ name, was given to 2,386 babies in 2025, fewer than 1 in 100 of the girls born in England and Wales. Flower and nature names are a British favourite: Lily, Poppy, Ivy, Daisy, Willow, Violet, Iris and Hazel are all in the top 75, and Jasmine (No. 102) and Holly (No. 169) are further down our list.

Name, rank and nicknames	Meaning and origin
Olivia #1 · say oh-LIV-ee-uh Nicknames: Liv, Livvy, Ollie	“olive” (from Latin oliva, or from the name Oliver). Latin, via English. No. 1 for girls in England and Wales in 2025, as in 2024. source
Lily #2 · say LIL-ee Usually used in full	The lily flower, a symbol of purity. English, from Latin lilium. Up one place to No. 2 in 2025. source
Amelia #3 · say uh-MEE-lee-uh Nicknames: Millie, Milly	From Amalia, from a word meaning “unceasing, vigorous, brave”. Germanic. source
Isla #4 · say EYE-luh Usually used in full	From Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland. Scottish. Also No. 2 in Scotland in 2025. source
Florence #5 · say FLOR-unss Nicknames: Flo, Florrie, Flossie	“prosperous, flourishing” (from Latin florens). Latin. Florence Nightingale was named after the Italian city where she was born. source
Freya #6 · say FRAY-uh Usually used in full	“lady”. Old Norse. A Norse goddess; No. 1 for girls in Scotland in 2025. source
Poppy #7 · say POP-ee Usually used in full	The red flower. English. Also the flower of remembrance in Britain. source
Elsie #8 · say EL-see Usually used in full	“my God is an oath” (a pet form of Elizabeth). Hebrew, via English and Scottish. source
Ivy #9 · say EYE-vee Usually used in full	The climbing plant. English. source
Isabella #10 · say iz-uh-BEL-uh Nicknames: Bella, Izzy, Isa	“my God is an oath” (a form of Elizabeth, via Isabel). Hebrew, via Spanish and Italian. source
Ava #11 · say AY-vuh Usually used in full	A form of Eve, from Hebrew for “to breathe” or “to live”. Hebrew. source
Evelyn #12 · say EV-uh-lin Nicknames: Evie	Uncertain: an English surname from Aveline, whose root is of unknown meaning. English, from Germanic. Meaning debated. Up eight places in 2025. source
Sophia #13 · say soh-FEE-uh Nicknames: Sophie, Sophy	“wisdom”. Greek. Sofia (No. 17) is the same name, counted separately by ONS. source
Phoebe #14 · say FEE-bee Usually used in full	“bright, pure”. Greek. Appears in the New Testament. source
Sienna #15 · say see-EN-uh Usually used in full	“orange-red”, the colour of the clay of Siena in Italy. English, from Italian. source
Mabel #16 · say MAY-bul Usually used in full	“lovable” (from Latin Amabilis). Latin, via English. Up 21 places in 2025, one of the biggest climbs in the top 100. source
Daisy #18 · say DAY-zee Usually used in full	The white flower, from Old English for “day’s eye”. English. source
Matilda #19 · say muh-TIL-duh Nicknames: Tilly, Tilda, Mattie	“strength in battle”. Germanic. The wife of William the Conqueror was a Matilda. source
Willow #20 · say WIL-oh Usually used in full	The willow tree. English. source
Mia #21 · say MEE-uh Usually used in full	A pet form of Maria, whose meaning is uncertain (perhaps “beloved”); also Italian for “mine”. Latin / Scandinavian. Meaning debated. source
Arabella #22 · say ar-uh-BEL-uh Nicknames: Bella	Probably a form of Annabel; long linked with Latin orabilis, “yielding to prayer”. Scottish. Meaning debated. source
Harper #23 · say HAH-puh Usually used in full	“harp player or harp maker”. English surname. source
Rosie #24 · say ROH-zee Usually used in full	A pet form of Rose, the flower (the older Germanic root is “fame” + “type”). English. Rose itself was No. 67 in 2025. source
Charlotte #25 · say SHAH-lut Nicknames: Charlie, Lottie	“man” (feminine pet form of Charles). French, from Germanic. source
Maeve #26 · say MAYV Usually used in full	“intoxicating”, the name of a legendary Irish queen. Irish. source
Grace #27 · say GRAYS Nicknames: Gracie	“grace” (from Latin gratia). English. No. 1 for girls in Northern Ireland in 2025. source
Maya #28 · say MY-uh Usually used in full	Several origins: a form of Maia (Greek, “good mother”), Sanskrit “illusion, magic”, or Hebrew “water”. Greek / Sanskrit / Hebrew. source
Hallie #29 · say HAL-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Harriet, “home ruler”. English. source
Margot #30 · say MAR-goh Usually used in full	“pearl” (a French short form of Marguerite, the French Margaret). Greek, via French. The t is silent. source
Lottie #31 · say LOT-ee Usually used in full	“man” (a pet form of Charlotte, the feminine of Charles). English. source
Penelope #33 · say puh-NEL-uh-pee Nicknames: Penny, Pen	Uncertain: probably from a Greek word for a kind of duck, or “threads” + “face”. Greek. Meaning debated. source
Aria #34 · say AH-ree-uh Usually used in full	“song, melody” (literally “air”). Italian. source
Evie #35 · say EE-vee Usually used in full	A pet form of Eve (from Hebrew for “to breathe” or “to live”) or of Evelyn. English. source
Millie #36 · say MIL-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Mildred (“gentle strength”), Millicent and similar names. English. source
Violet #37 · say VY-uh-lit Nicknames: Vi	The purple flower. English, from Latin viola. source
Ruby #38 · say ROO-bee Usually used in full	The red gemstone (from Latin for “red”). English. source
Aurora #39 · say uh-RAW-ruh Usually used in full	“dawn”. Latin. source
Ada #40 · say AY-duh Usually used in full	“noble” (first a short form of names such as Adelaide). Germanic. Mathematician Ada Lovelace is a famous bearer. source
Mila #40 · say MEE-luh Usually used in full	“gracious, dear”. Slavic. Joint 40th with Ada in 2025. source
Maisie #43 · say MAY-zee Usually used in full	“pearl” (a Scottish pet form of Mairead, the Gaelic Margaret). Scottish. source
Emily #44 · say EM-uh-lee Nicknames: Em, Emmy, Millie	From the Roman family name Aemilius, from Latin for “rival”. Latin. source
Esme #45 · say EZ-mee Usually used in full	“esteemed” or “loved”. Old French. First recorded in Scotland in the 16th century. source
Ella #46 · say EL-uh Nicknames: Ellie	“other” (from a Germanic word), or a short form of Eleanor. Germanic / English. source
Olive #47 · say OL-iv Nicknames: Ollie	The olive tree. English, from Latin oliva. source
Layla #50 · say LAY-luh Usually used in full	“night”. Arabic. source
Emilia #51 · say ih-MEE-lee-uh Nicknames: Millie, Emmy	“rival” (from the Roman family name Aemilius). Latin. source
Alice #52 · say AL-is Nicknames: Allie, Ali	“nobleness, nobility” (via Adelaide). Germanic, via Old French. source
Maryam #52 · say MAR-ee-um Usually used in full	Uncertain: the Arabic form of Mary, whose meaning is debated (perhaps Egyptian for “beloved”). Arabic, from Hebrew. Meaning debated. The mother of Jesus in the Quran; joint 52nd in 2025. source
Eleanor #56 · say EL-uh-nor Nicknames: Ellie, Nora, Nell	Uncertain: possibly from Latin alia Aenor, “the other Aenor”. Occitan, via Old French. Meaning debated. source
Iris #57 · say EYE-ris Usually used in full	“rainbow”. Greek. source
Eva #58 · say EE-vuh Nicknames: Evie	“to breathe” or “to live” (a form of Eve). Hebrew. source
Harriet #59 · say HARR-ee-ut Usually used in full	“home ruler” (an English form of Henriette, the feminine of Henry). Germanic, via French. source
Luna #59 · say LOO-nuh Usually used in full	“the moon”. Latin. source
Eliana #62 · say el-ee-AH-nuh Usually used in full	“my God has answered” (Hebrew); also a Romance form of Éliane. Hebrew / Latin. source
Sophie #63 · say SOH-fee Usually used in full	“wisdom” (the French form of Sophia). Greek, via French. source
Orla #64 · say OR-luh Usually used in full	“golden princess” (from Órlaith). Irish. source
Eliza #65 · say ih-LY-zuh Usually used in full	“my God is an oath” (a short form of Elizabeth). Hebrew, via English. source
Thea #66 · say THEE-uh Usually used in full	“gift of God” (a short form of Dorothea or Theodora). Greek. source
Rose #67 · say ROHZ Nicknames: Rosie	The flower (originally a Germanic name from “fame” + “type”). English and Germanic. source
Nova #68 · say NOH-vuh Usually used in full	“new”. Latin. source
Imogen #69 · say IM-uh-jen Usually used in full	Uncertain: a misprint of Innogen in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline; Innogen probably comes from Gaelic for “maiden”. English, from Gaelic. Meaning debated. Chiefly a British and Australian name. source
Hazel #71 · say HAY-zul Usually used in full	The hazel tree, or the light brown colour. English. source
Zara #73 · say ZAH-ruh Usually used in full	Meaning uncertain, possibly from an Arabic word for “flower”. English. Meaning debated. source
Elizabeth #74 · say ih-LIZ-uh-buth Nicknames: Eliza, Libby, Lizzie, Beth	“my God is an oath”. Hebrew, via Greek. source
Nora #75 · say NOR-uh Nicknames: Nonie	“honour” (short form of Honora); also a short form of Eleanor. Latin / Irish. source
Robyn #76 · say ROB-in Usually used in full	“bright fame” (a feminine spelling of Robin, from Robert). English. source
Clara #77 · say KLAH-ruh Usually used in full	“clear, bright, famous”. Latin. source
Nancy #78 · say NAN-see Nicknames: Nan	“favour, grace” (a pet form of Ann). English. source
Eden #80 · say EE-dun Usually used in full	Possibly “pleasure, delight”, from the garden in the Bible. Hebrew. Meaning debated. source
Ophelia #81 · say oh-FEE-lee-uh Usually used in full	“help, advantage”. Greek. source
Eloise #83 · say EL-oh-eez Usually used in full	Probably from Germanic words for “healthy, whole” and “wide”. Germanic, via Old French. Meaning debated. source
Gracie #84 · say GRAY-see Usually used in full	“grace” (a pet form of Grace). English. source
Emma #85 · say EM-uh Nicknames: Em, Emmy	“whole” or “great”. Germanic. source
Maria #88 · say muh-REE-uh Usually used in full	The Latin form of Mary; the meaning is debated (possibly “beloved” or “bitter”). Hebrew, via Latin. Meaning debated. source
Chloe #89 · say KLOH-ee Usually used in full	“green shoot” (new spring growth). Greek. source
Athena #90 · say uh-THEE-nuh Usually used in full	Meaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom. Greek. Meaning debated. source
Bella #91 · say BEL-uh Usually used in full	“beautiful” in Italian, and a short form of Isabella. Italian. source
Scarlett #93 · say SKAH-lit Usually used in full	A surname for someone who made or sold scarlet cloth. English surname. source
Rosa #96 · say ROH-zuh Nicknames: Rosie	“rose”. Latin. source
Frankie #100 · say FRANK-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Frances, “Frenchman”. English. source
Nellie #101 · say NEL-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Nell, from Eleanor or Helen. English. source
Jasmine #102 · say JAZ-min Usually used in full	The fragrant climbing flower. Persian, via Arabic and English. source
Amara #103 · say uh-MAH-ruh Usually used in full	“grace”. Igbo. source
Zoe #104 · say ZOH-ee Usually used in full	“life”. Greek. source
Hannah #105 · say HAN-uh Nicknames: Annie	“favour, grace”. Hebrew. source
Aisha #106 · say eye-EE-shuh Usually used in full	“living, alive”. Arabic. source
Autumn #107 · say AW-tum Usually used in full	The season. English. source
Francesca #107 · say fran-CHES-kuh Nicknames: Frankie	“Frenchman” (an Italian feminine form of Francis). Italian. source
Summer #109 · say SUM-uh Usually used in full	The season. English. source
Annie #111 · say AN-ee Usually used in full	“favour, grace” (a pet form of Anne). Hebrew, via English. source
Liyana #111 · say lee-YAH-nuh Usually used in full	“soft, delicate”. Arabic. source
Cleo #114 · say KLEE-oh Usually used in full	“glory” (a short form of Cleopatra). Greek. source
Zahra #116 · say ZAH-ruh Usually used in full	“shining, brilliant, bright”. Arabic. source
Winnie #117 · say WIN-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Winifred, possibly “blessed peace”. Welsh, via English. Meaning debated. source
Dua #118 · say DOO-uh Usually used in full	“prayer”. Arabic. source
Ellie #119 · say EL-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Eleanor, Elizabeth and other names beginning with El. English. source
Molly #120 · say MOL-ee Usually used in full	A medieval pet form of Mary. English. Meaning debated. source
Beatrice #121 · say BEE-uh-triss Nicknames: Bea	Probably “voyager”, later linked with Latin beatus, “blessed” (from Beatrix). Latin, via Italian. Meaning debated. source
Amelie #122 · say AM-uh-lee Usually used in full	“work” (a German form of Amelia). Germanic. source
Amira #124 · say uh-MEER-uh Usually used in full	“princess, commander” (the feminine of Amir). Arabic. source
Aurelia #125 · say aw-REE-lee-uh Usually used in full	“golden” (from the Roman family name Aurelius). Latin. source
Daphne #125 · say DAF-nee Usually used in full	“laurel”. Greek. source
Edith #125 · say EE-dith Nicknames: Edie	“wealth, fortune” + “battle”. Old English. source
Heidi #130 · say HY-dee Usually used in full	“noble type” (a German pet form of Adelheid). Germanic. source
Sarah #131 · say SAIR-uh Nicknames: Sadie, Sally	“lady, princess, noblewoman”. Hebrew. source
Aaliyah #132 · say ah-LEE-uh Usually used in full	“high, exalted” (the feminine of Aali). Arabic. source
Cora #132 · say KOR-uh Usually used in full	“maiden” (from Kore, a name of the Greek goddess Persephone). Greek. source
Sadie #134 · say SAY-dee Usually used in full	“lady, princess” (a pet form of Sarah). Hebrew. source
Wren #137 · say REN Usually used in full	The small songbird. English. source
Darcy #140 · say DAH-see Usually used in full	From the Norman surname d’Arcy, “from Arcy” in France. English, from Norman French. source
Pippa #141 · say PIP-uh Usually used in full	“friend of horses” (a pet form of Philippa). Greek, via English. source
Anna #142 · say AN-uh Nicknames: Annie	“favour, grace” (a form of Hannah). Hebrew, via Greek and Latin. source
Lucy #143 · say LOO-see Usually used in full	“light” (English form of Lucia, from Lucius). Latin. source
Hana #144 · say HAH-nuh Usually used in full	“bliss, happiness”. Arabic. source
Etta #147 · say ET-uh Usually used in full	A short form of Henrietta (“home ruler”) and other names ending in etta. English. source
Annabelle #149 · say AN-uh-bel Nicknames: Bella	Probably from Amabel, “lovable”; also read as Anna + belle, “beautiful”. Scottish and English. Meaning debated. source
Esther #150 · say ES-tuh Nicknames: Essie	Possibly “star” in Persian. Persian, via Hebrew. Meaning debated. source
Billie #151 · say BIL-ee Usually used in full	“will helmet” (a pet form of William, used for girls). English. source
Felicity #152 · say fuh-LIS-ih-tee Nicknames: Flick	“happiness” (the English word). Latin, via English. source
Hattie #153 · say HAT-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Harriet, “home ruler”. English. source
Connie #154 · say KON-ee Usually used in full	“constant, steadfast” (a pet form of Constance). English. source
Edie #156 · say EE-dee Usually used in full	A pet form of Edith, “wealth, fortune” + “battle”. English. source
Nina #157 · say NEE-nuh Usually used in full	A short form of names ending in nina, such as Antonina. Russian and Italian. source
Lydia #158 · say LID-ee-uh Usually used in full	“from Lydia”, a region of ancient Asia Minor. Greek. source
Victoria #160 · say vik-TOR-ee-uh Nicknames: Tori, Vicky	“victory”. Latin. source
Elena #161 · say EL-uh-nuh Nicknames: Lena, Ellie	Probably “torch” (a form of Helen). Greek. source
Ariella #163 · say ar-ee-EL-uh Usually used in full	“lion of God” (a feminine form of Ariel). Hebrew. source
Amber #164 · say AM-buh Usually used in full	The golden gemstone, or the orange-yellow colour. English, from Arabic. source
Martha #164 · say MAH-thuh Nicknames: Mattie	“the lady, the mistress”. Aramaic. source
Naomi #166 · say NAY-oh-mee Usually used in full	“my pleasantness”. Hebrew. source
Inaya #167 · say ih-NY-uh Usually used in full	“care, concern”. Arabic. source
River #168 · say RIV-uh Usually used in full	A flowing body of water (the English word). English. source
Holly #169 · say HOL-ee Usually used in full	The holly tree. English. source
Lucia #170 · say LOO-chuh Nicknames: Lucy	“light” (the feminine of Lucius). Latin. source
Abigail #171 · say AB-ih-gayl Nicknames: Abby, Abi, Gail	“my father is joy”. Hebrew. source
Remi #172 · say REM-ee Usually used in full	“oarsman” (from the Latin name Remigius). Latin, via French. source
Romy #172 · say ROH-mee Usually used in full	A pet form of Rosemary and names beginning with Rom. German and English. source
Georgia #175 · say JOR-juh Nicknames: Georgie	“farmer” (a feminine form of George). Greek. source
Madison #175 · say MAD-iss-un Nicknames: Maddie	“son of Matthew” or “son of Maud”, from an English surname. English. source
Amal #177 · say uh-MAHL Usually used in full	“hope, aspiration”. Arabic. source
Betsy #177 · say BET-see Usually used in full	“my God is an oath” (a pet form of Elizabeth). English. source
Lila #179 · say LY-luh Usually used in full	“night” (a form of Leila), or a short form of Delilah. Arabic. Meaning debated. source
Hope #180 · say HOHP Usually used in full	Hope (the English word). English. source
Gabriella #181 · say gab-ree-EL-uh Nicknames: Gabby, Ella	“God is my strong man” (a feminine form of Gabriel). Hebrew. source
Noor #181 · say NOOR Usually used in full	“light”. Arabic and Urdu. source
Isabel #184 · say IZ-uh-bel Nicknames: Izzy, Belle, Bella	“my God is an oath” (a medieval form of Elizabeth). Hebrew, via Occitan. source
Maggie #184 · say MAG-ee Usually used in full	“pearl” (a pet form of Margaret). English. source
Callie #186 · say KAL-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Caroline (“man”) or of names beginning with Cal. English. source
Clementine #186 · say KLEM-un-tine Nicknames: Clem	“merciful” (from the Latin name Clemens). Latin, via French. source
Riley #186 · say RY-lee Usually used in full	“rye clearing” (an English place name), or from an Irish surname. English and Irish. source

ONS counts each spelling separately, so Sophia (No. 13) and Sofia (No. 17) appear as two names. We list one spelling and mention the other.

British boy names with meanings

British boys’ names mix centuries-old royal names (George, Henry, Edward, William), short friendly forms that are now names in their own right (Freddie, Archie, Alfie, Theo, Teddy) and names that families of many backgrounds share, like Noah, Adam and Isaac. Muhammad has been the most popular boys’ name in England and Wales in both 2024 and 2025.

Name, rank and nicknames	Meaning and origin
Muhammad #1 · say moo-HAM-ud Usually used in full	“praised, commendable”. Arabic. Mohammed (No. 20) and Mohammad (No. 55) are counted separately by ONS. source
Noah #2 · say NOH-uh Usually used in full	“rest, repose”. Hebrew. No. 1 in Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2025. source
Leo #3 · say LEE-oh Usually used in full	“lion”. Latin. source
Luca #4 · say LOO-kuh Usually used in full	“from Lucania” (Italian form of Lucas). Greek, via Italian. Up 49 places since 2015. source
Arthur #5 · say AH-thuh Nicknames: Art, Artie	Unknown; possibly from Celtic words for “bear” and “man” or “king”. Celtic (uncertain). Meaning debated. source
Oliver #6 · say OL-iv-uh Nicknames: Ollie, Oli	Possibly “olive tree”, though the origin is debated. Latin, via Old French. Meaning debated. source
George #7 · say JORJ Nicknames: Georgie	“farmer, earthworker”. Greek. source
Oscar #8 · say OS-kuh Nicknames: Ossie	Uncertain: possibly “deer friend” (Old Irish), or from an Old English or Norse name. Irish / Old English. Meaning debated. Writer Oscar Wilde is a famous bearer. source
Theodore #9 · say THEE-uh-dor Nicknames: Theo, Teddy	“gift of god”. Greek. source
Freddie #10 · say FRED-ee Usually used in full	“peaceful ruler” (a pet form of Frederick). English. Singer Freddie Mercury is a famous bearer. source
Archie #11 · say AH-chee Usually used in full	“genuine” + “bold” (a pet form of Archibald). English, from Germanic. source
Theo #12 · say THEE-oh Usually used in full	“gift of God” (a short form of Theodore). Greek. Counted separately from Theodore (No. 9). source
Henry #13 · say HEN-ree Nicknames: Harry, Hal	“home ruler”. Germanic. source
Jude #14 · say JOOD Usually used in full	“praised” (from Judah, via Judas). Hebrew. Saint Jude was one of the apostles. source
Arlo #15 · say AH-loh Usually used in full	Uncertain; perhaps from Arlo Hill in Spenser’s poem The Faerie Queene. English. Meaning debated. source
Alfie #16 · say AL-fee Usually used in full	“elf counsel” (a pet form of Alfred). English. Alfred the Great was a 9th-century English king. source
Rory #17 · say ROR-ee Usually used in full	“red king” (from Irish Ruaidhrí). Irish. No. 3 in Scotland in 2025. source
Finley #18 · say FIN-lee Usually used in full	“white warrior” (from Gaelic Fionnlagh, via Finlay). Scottish. source
Harry #19 · say HARR-ee Nicknames: Hal	“home ruler” (the medieval English form of Henry). English, from Germanic. source
Albie #21 · say AL-bee Usually used in full	“bright nobility” (a pet form of Albert). English. source
Charlie #22 · say CHAH-lee Usually used in full	“man” (a pet form of Charles). English. Also used for girls. source
Elijah #23 · say ih-LY-juh Nicknames: Eli	“my God is Yahweh”. Hebrew. source
Jack #24 · say JAK Usually used in full	“Yahweh is gracious”, as a medieval pet form of John. English. source
William #25 · say WIL-yum Nicknames: Will, Liam, Billy	“will helmet”: will, desire + helmet, protection. Germanic. source
Adam #26 · say AD-um Usually used in full	“man”, possibly from a Hebrew word for “red” or “earth”. Hebrew. The first man in the Bible and the Quran. Up nine places in 2025. source
Roman #27 · say ROH-mun Usually used in full	“Roman”. Latin. source
Louie #28 · say LOO-ee Usually used in full	“famous battle” (a pet form of Louis). English. source
Reuben #29 · say ROO-bun Usually used in full	“behold, a son”. Hebrew. Ruben (No. 100) is counted separately. source
Rowan #30 · say ROH-un Usually used in full	“little red one” (Irish Ruadhán); also the rowan tree. Irish. Up 11 places in 2025. source
Edward #31 · say ED-wud Nicknames: Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, Ned	“rich guard” (wealth + guard). Old English. The name of eight English kings since the Norman Conquest. source
Lucas #32 · say LOO-kus Nicknames: Luke, Luca	“from Lucania”, a region of southern Italy (Latin form of Luke). Greek, via Latin. source
Oakley #33 · say OHK-lee Usually used in full	“oak clearing”, from an English place name. English. source
Teddy #34 · say TED-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Edward (“rich guard”) or Theodore (“gift of God”). English. source
Thomas #35 · say TOM-us Nicknames: Tom, Tommy	“twin”. Aramaic, via Greek. Among the five most common English boys’ names from the 13th to the 19th century. source
Isaac #36 · say EYE-zuk Nicknames: Ike	“he will laugh, he will rejoice”. Hebrew. source
Reggie #37 · say REJ-ee Usually used in full	“advice, counsel” + “rule” (a pet form of Reginald). English. source
Ezra #38 · say EZ-ruh Usually used in full	“help”. Hebrew. source
Ronnie #39 · say RON-ee Usually used in full	“advice” + “ruler” (a pet form of Ronald). English. source
Alexander #40 · say al-ig-ZAHN-duh Nicknames: Alex, Xander, Alec	“defending men”. Greek. source
James #42 · say JAYMZ Nicknames: Jamie, Jim, Jimmy	From the same Hebrew name as Jacob, explained in the Bible as “holder of the heel”; another theory is “may God protect”. Hebrew, via Latin. Meaning debated. source
Hudson #43 · say HUD-sun Usually used in full	“son of Hudde” (Hudde was a medieval pet form of Hugh, or possibly Richard). English surname. source
Tommy #44 · say TOM-ee Usually used in full	“twin” (a pet form of Thomas). English. source
Sonny #45 · say SUN-ee Usually used in full	From a nickname for a young boy, from the word “son”. English. source
Hugo #46 · say HYOO-goh Nicknames: Hughie	“mind, spirit” (the old German form of Hugh). Germanic. French writer Victor Hugo had it as a surname. source
Sebastian #47 · say suh-BAS-chun Usually used in full	“from Sebaste”, a city whose name comes from Greek for “venerable”. Greek, via Latin. source
Max #48 · say MAKS Usually used in full	“greatest” (short for Maximilian). Latin. source
Louis #49 · say LOO-ee Nicknames: Louie, Lou	“famous in battle” (the French form of Ludwig). Germanic, via French. Usually LOO-ee in Britain; LOO-is is also heard. source
Harrison #50 · say HARR-ih-sun Usually used in full	“son of Harry”. English surname. source
Jesse #51 · say JES-ee Nicknames: Jess	Possibly “gift”. Hebrew. Meaning debated. source
Frederick #52 · say FRED-rik Nicknames: Freddie, Fred	“peaceful ruler”. Germanic. source
Joshua #53 · say JOSH-yoo-uh Nicknames: Josh	“Yahweh is salvation”. Hebrew. Successor of Moses in the Old Testament. source
Ethan #54 · say EE-thun Usually used in full	“solid, enduring, firm”. Hebrew. source
Frankie #56 · say FRANK-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Frank, “a Frank” (a member of the Germanic tribe). English. source
Albert #57 · say AL-but Nicknames: Albie, Bertie, Bert, Al	“noble and bright”. Germanic. Albie was No. 21 in its own right in 2025. source
Vinnie #58 · say VIN-ee Usually used in full	“conquering” (a pet form of Vincent). English. source
Felix #59 · say FEE-liks Usually used in full	“lucky, successful”. Latin. source
Joseph #59 · say JOH-sef Nicknames: Joe, Joey	“he will add”. Hebrew. source
Benjamin #61 · say BEN-juh-min Nicknames: Ben, Benji, Benny	“son of the right hand” or “son of the south”. Hebrew. source
Daniel #62 · say DAN-yul Nicknames: Dan, Danny	“God is my judge”. Hebrew. source
Jasper #63 · say JAS-puh Usually used in full	Perhaps “treasurer” (from Gaspar, one of the three wise men). Persian, via Latin. Also a gemstone. source
Yusuf #64 · say YOO-suf Usually used in full	“he will add” (the Arabic form of Joseph). Arabic, from Hebrew. source
Samuel #66 · say SAM-yoo-ul Nicknames: Sam, Sammy	“name of God”, or possibly “God has heard”. Hebrew. source
Liam #68 · say LEE-um Usually used in full	“will helmet” (desire + protection), as a short form of William. Irish. source
Elias #69 · say ih-LY-us Nicknames: Eli	“my God is Yahweh” (a form of Elijah). Hebrew, via Greek. source
Ibrahim #70 · say ib-rah-HEEM Usually used in full	“father of many” (the Arabic form of Abraham). Arabic, from Hebrew. source
Otis #71 · say OH-tis Usually used in full	“wealth, fortune” (from Ode, a form of Otto). English, from Germanic. source
Dylan #72 · say DIL-un Usually used in full	From Welsh words meaning “to, toward” + “tide, flow”. Welsh. source
David #73 · say DAY-vid Nicknames: Dave, Davy	“beloved”. Hebrew. source
Finn #74 · say FIN Usually used in full	“white, fair” (from Fionn). Irish. source
Zachary #75 · say ZAK-uh-ree Nicknames: Zac, Zach	“Yahweh remembers”. Hebrew. source
Alfred #76 · say AL-fred Nicknames: Alf, Alfie	“elf counsel”. Old English. source
Mason #77 · say MAY-sun Usually used in full	“stoneworker”. English, from Old French. source
Kai #78 · say KY Usually used in full	Meaning uncertain; possibly a Frisian pet form of several names. Frisian. Meaning debated. source
Rupert #79 · say ROO-put Usually used in full	“bright fame” (a German form of Robert). Germanic. source
Gabriel #80 · say GAY-bree-ul Nicknames: Gabe	“God is my strong man”. Hebrew. source
Yahya #81 · say YAH-yuh Usually used in full	“Yahweh is gracious” (the Arabic form of John). Arabic, from Hebrew. source
Riley #83 · say RY-lee Usually used in full	“rye clearing” (an English place name), or from an Irish surname. English and Irish. source
Michael #85 · say MY-kul Nicknames: Mike, Mikey, Mick	“who is like God?”. Hebrew. source
Austin #86 · say OSS-tin Usually used in full	“great, venerable” (a medieval form of Augustine). Latin, via English. source
Logan #87 · say LOH-gun Usually used in full	“little hollow”, from a Scottish place name. Scottish. source
Toby #89 · say TOH-bee Usually used in full	“Yahweh is good” (a medieval form of Tobias). Hebrew, via English. source
Milo #90 · say MY-loh Usually used in full	An old form of Miles, whose meaning is uncertain. Germanic. Meaning debated. source
Hunter #91 · say HUN-tuh Usually used in full	“hunter”, from an English surname. English. source
Ellis #92 · say EL-is Usually used in full	From an English surname, from Elis, a medieval form of Elias (“my God is Yahweh”). English, from Hebrew. source
Vincent #93 · say VIN-sunt Nicknames: Vince, Vinny	“to conquer”. Latin. source
Bobby #94 · say BOB-ee Usually used in full	“bright fame” (a pet form of Robert). English. source
Elliot #94 · say EL-ee-ut Usually used in full	From an English surname that came from a medieval pet form of Elias. English, from Hebrew. source
Ralph #96 · say RALF Usually used in full	“counsel” + “wolf”. Old Norse, via English. source
Carter #97 · say KAH-tuh Usually used in full	“one who uses a cart”, from an English surname. English. source
Stanley #97 · say STAN-lee Nicknames: Stan	“stone clearing”. English. source
Nathan #99 · say NAY-thun Nicknames: Nate, Nat	“he gave”. Hebrew. source
Ruben #100 · say ROO-bun Usually used in full	“behold, a son” (a form of Reuben). Hebrew. source
Leon #101 · say LEE-on Usually used in full	“lion”. Greek. source
Cody #102 · say KOH-dee Usually used in full	“descendant of the helpful one”, from an Irish surname. Irish. source
Ali #103 · say AH-lee Usually used in full	“lofty, sublime”. Arabic. source
Grayson #104 · say GRAY-sun Usually used in full	“son of the steward”, from an English surname. English. source
Cooper #105 · say KOO-puh Usually used in full	“barrel maker”, from an English surname. English. source
Levi #107 · say LEE-vy Usually used in full	Possibly “joined, attached”. Hebrew. Meaning debated. source
Beau #108 · say BOH Usually used in full	“beautiful, handsome”. French. source
Robin #109 · say ROB-in Usually used in full	“bright fame” (a medieval pet form of Robert). English. source
Billy #110 · say BIL-ee Usually used in full	“will helmet” (a pet form of William). English. source
River #110 · say RIV-uh Usually used in full	A flowing body of water (the English word). English. source
Remy #112 · say REM-ee Usually used in full	“oarsman” (from the Latin name Remigius). Latin, via French. source
Wilfred #113 · say WIL-fred Nicknames: Wilf	“desiring peace”. Old English. source
Miles #114 · say MYLZ Usually used in full	Meaning not known for certain. Germanic, via Norman French. Meaning debated. source
Bodhi #115 · say BOH-dee Usually used in full	“enlightenment”, a Buddhist term. Sanskrit. source
Tobias #116 · say tuh-BY-uss Nicknames: Toby	“Yahweh is good”. Hebrew, via Greek. source
Otto #117 · say OT-oh Usually used in full	“wealth, fortune”. Germanic. source
Ayaan #118 · say uh-YAHN Usually used in full	From Sanskrit words meaning “path, progress” or “natural disposition”. Sanskrit. source
Charles #119 · say CHAHLZ Nicknames: Charlie, Chuck	“man” (one theory says “army”). Germanic. source
Kit #122 · say KIT Usually used in full	A pet form of Christopher, “bearing Christ”. English. source
Ollie #123 · say OL-ee Usually used in full	A pet form of Oliver. English. Meaning debated. source
Marley #125 · say MAH-lee Usually used in full	“pleasant wood”, “boundary wood” or “marten wood”, from an English place name. English. Meaning debated. source
Leonardo #126 · say lee-uh-NAH-doh Nicknames: Leo	“brave lion” (a form of Leonard). Germanic, via Italian. source
Luke #131 · say LOOK Usually used in full	Probably “from Lucania”, a region of southern Italy. Greek, via Latin. source
Lorenzo #132 · say luh-REN-zoh Nicknames: Enzo	“from Laurentum” (an Italian and Spanish form of Laurence). Latin. source
Zayn #133 · say ZAYN Usually used in full	“beauty, grace”. Arabic. source
Patrick #134 · say PAT-rik Nicknames: Pat, Paddy	“nobleman, patrician”. Latin. source
Ryan #135 · say RY-un Usually used in full	From an Irish surname; the meaning is uncertain (traditionally “little king”). Irish. Meaning debated. source
Zion #135 · say ZY-un Usually used in full	A hill in Jerusalem; also a name for heaven. Hebrew. source
Eli #137 · say EE-ly Usually used in full	“ascension”. Hebrew. source
Harvey #138 · say HAH-vee Usually used in full	“iron” or “battle” + “eager, blazing” (from a Breton name). Breton. source
Jackson #138 · say JAK-sun Nicknames: Jack	“son of Jack”, from an English surname. English. source
Lenny #141 · say LEN-ee Usually used in full	“brave lion” (a pet form of Leonard). English. source
Idris #142 · say ID-ris Usually used in full	Possibly “interpreter, teacher”. Arabic. Meaning debated. source
Raphael #142 · say RAF-ay-el Usually used in full	“God heals”. Hebrew. source
Harley #145 · say HAH-lee Usually used in full	“hare clearing” or “rock clearing”, from an English place name. English. source
Axel #147 · say AK-sul Usually used in full	“my father is peace” (a medieval Danish form of Absalom). Hebrew, via Danish. source
Jonah #147 · say JOH-nuh Usually used in full	“dove”. Hebrew. source
Nathaniel #149 · say nuh-THAN-yul Nicknames: Nat, Nate	“God has given” (from Nathanael). Hebrew. source
Asher #150 · say ASH-uh Usually used in full	“happy, blessed”. Hebrew. source
Atlas #151 · say AT-lus Usually used in full	Possibly “enduring”, the Titan who held up the sky. Greek. Meaning debated. source
Archer #152 · say AH-chuh Usually used in full	“bowman, archer”. English, from Old French. source
Matthew #153 · say MATH-yoo Nicknames: Matt, Matty	“gift of Yahweh”. Hebrew, via Greek. source
Dexter #154 · say DEK-stuh Nicknames: Dex	“one who dyes” (an English surname), also Latin for “right-handed, skilled”. English. source
Rudy #155 · say ROO-dee Usually used in full	“famous wolf” (a pet form of Rudolf). English. source
Isaiah #156 · say eye-ZY-uh Usually used in full	“Yahweh is salvation”. Hebrew. source
Omar #157 · say OH-mah Usually used in full	“flourishing, living long” (a spelling of Umar). Arabic. source
Mateo #160 · say mat-AY-oh Usually used in full	“gift of Yahweh” (Spanish form of Matthew). Hebrew, via Spanish. source
Abdullah #162 · say ab-DUL-uh Usually used in full	“servant of God”. Arabic. source
Joey #163 · say JOH-ee Usually used in full	“he will add” (a pet form of Joseph). English. source
Robert #164 · say ROB-ut Nicknames: Bob, Bobby, Rob, Robbie	“bright fame”. Germanic. source
Nico #165 · say NEE-koh Usually used in full	“victory of the people” (a short form of Nicholas). Greek, via Italian. source
Rio #166 · say REE-oh Usually used in full	“river”. Spanish and Portuguese. source
Casper #167 · say KAS-puh Usually used in full	Perhaps “treasurer” (a form of Jasper). Dutch, from Persian. Meaning debated. source
Ahmed #168 · say AH-med Usually used in full	“most commendable, most praiseworthy” (a form of Ahmad). Arabic. source
Eric #168 · say ERR-ik Usually used in full	“ever ruler”. Old Norse. source
Aiden #170 · say AY-dun Usually used in full	“little fire” (a form of Aidan). Irish. source
Mustafa #170 · say MOOS-tuh-fuh Usually used in full	“chosen”. Arabic. source
Owen #170 · say OH-in Usually used in full	Uncertain: from Welsh Owain (possibly from Eugene, “well born”) or Irish Eoghan (possibly “born from the yew tree”). Welsh / Irish. Meaning debated. source

Liam, the No. 1 boys’ name in the United States, was only No. 68 in England and Wales in 2025, and George, No. 7 here, is outside the US top 100. Our American baby names page has the US list.

British nicknames: from Alfie to Lottie

In Britain, nicknames often become the name on the birth certificate. In 2025, Freddie was No. 10 for boys, Archie No. 11, Theo No. 12, Alfie No. 16 and Teddy No. 34, all ranked as names in their own right. For girls, Elsie (No. 8) began as a pet form of Elizabeth, and Rosie (No. 24), Lottie (No. 31), Evie (No. 35) and Millie (No. 36) are all popular on their own.

If you love a short name, you can choose the longer form for flexibility (Frederick for Freddie, Theodore for Theo, Charlotte for Lottie) or give the short name on its own. Both are common, and neither is more “correct”.

Classic British nickname pairs

Full name	Common nicknames
Elizabeth	Libby, Lizzie, Beth, Elsie
Margaret	Maggie, Meg, Peggy
Charlotte	Lottie, Charlie
Matilda	Tilly, Tilda
Florence	Flo, Florrie
Amelia	Millie
Frederick	Freddie, Fred
Theodore	Theo, Teddy
Alfred	Alfie, Alf
Archibald	Archie
Edward	Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy
Henry	Harry, Hal

Nicknames are from Behind the Name’s lists of pet forms and short forms. For hundreds more, see our nicknames A to Z.

Which British names are rising?

The ONS tables show how far each name has moved since 2024 and since 2015. Some of the clearest trends in 2025:

Old-fashioned names are back. Mabel rose 21 places in a single year to No. 16, the biggest jump among the top 20 girls’ names. Matilda rose 12 places to No. 19, Evelyn 8 places to No. 12 and Elsie, Florence and Freya all moved up.
Short, friendly boys’ names keep climbing. Luca has risen 49 places since 2015 to No. 4, Rory 57 places to No. 17, Jude 47 places to No. 14 and Roman 61 places to No. 27.
Arthur and Theodore were both outside the top 30 in 2015 and are now in the top 10, at No. 5 and No. 9.
Muhammad was No. 1 for boys for the second year running. With the other common spellings (Mohammed, Mohammad, Muhammed and Mohamed) counted together, 9,189 boys were given the name in 2025.
Margot has risen 241 places since 2015 and is now No. 30, and Ivy is in the top 10 for girls after rising 33 places in ten years.

A top-10 name is common, but probably less common than you think: even Olivia went to fewer than 1 in 100 girls. If you would rather your child was not one of three in the class, names ranked from about 40 to 100, such as Iris, Harriet, Hazel, Felix, Jasper or Albert, are well known without being everywhere.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

The ONS list covers England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland register births separately and publish their own lists, and their favourites are a little different:

Scotland, 2025: Freya was the most popular girls’ name for the first time (268 babies), followed by Isla and Olivia. Noah was No. 1 for boys (318 babies), followed by Luca, Rory and Muhammad. Source: National Records of Scotland, Babies’ first names 2025, published 26 May 2026.
Northern Ireland, 2025: Grace was No. 1 for girls (127 babies), followed by Fiadh and Olivia, and Noah was No. 1 for boys (170 babies). Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, Baby names 2025, published 16 April 2026.

Fiadh (said FEE-uh) is an Irish name meaning “wild, wild animal, deer” or “respect”; it is much more common in Northern Ireland than in England and Wales, where it ranked No. 256. Families with Scottish or Irish roots may also like Rory, Isla, Esme or Imogen from our lists, each with Gaelic or Scottish history.

How to choose a baby name: a practical checklist

There is no wrong way to choose a name, but parents who feel happiest with their choice usually tried it out before the birth. Work through these together:

Say the full name out loud, with the middle name and surname. Listen for rhymes or names that run together (Rory Ryan, Ella Lamb).
Write out the initials, and the first name with the surname initial, the way a school register might.
Call it across a playground. Short names with a clear vowel (Leo, Ivy, Jude) carry well; long names tend to get shortened anyway.
Spell it once on the phone. Classic spellings like the ones here save your child a lifetime of “that’s with a Y”.
Check the meaning in a proper source. Many websites copy meanings from each other. Some popular names have surprising literal meanings (Thomas means “twin”), so it is worth knowing before a grandparent asks.
Decide how much popularity matters. Some parents want a name everyone knows; others want something less common. Both are fine; just choose knowingly.
Think about family and heritage. A middle name is a lovely place for a grandparent’s name or a name from your family’s language.
Try it in every language your family speaks. Say it to relatives who speak Punjabi, Urdu, Polish, Welsh or another language at home, and ask honestly how it sounds.
Live with your top two for a week. Use them when you talk about the baby; one usually starts to feel right.

Looking for names from your family’s heritage? See our Indian baby names with meanings and baby names from around the world.

How to say these names

The “say” guide in each table is a simple respelling for English speakers, with the stressed part in capitals. It follows a standard southern British accent, where the r at the end of a syllable is usually silent, so Arthur is AH-thuh and Harper is HAH-puh. In Scotland, Northern Ireland and much of the West Country the r is said. Families are always right about their own name.

Isla is EYE-luh. The s is silent, as in “island”.
Margot is MAR-goh: the t is silent.
Thea is THEE-uh, and Theo THEE-oh, with a soft “th” as in “think”.
Louis is usually LOO-ee in Britain, though LOO-is is also heard.
Hugo is HYOO-goh, and Luca LOO-kuh.
Esme is EZ-mee; some families say EZ-may.
Imogen has three syllables: IM-uh-jen.
Muhammad is moo-HAM-ud in English; Arabic speakers stress the second syllable with a doubled m.

When your child is ready to write their own name, print a free practice sheet with our name tracing worksheet maker.

How we chose these names

Popular and in real use. Every name is ranked in England and Wales in 2025: the girls’ names go down to No. 186 and the boys’ to No. 170.
One spelling per name. Where two spellings are both common (Sophia and Sofia), we list one and mention the other.
Meanings checked, not copied. Each meaning is summarised from the main Behind the Name entry for that name and the root name it comes from. Where the meaning is unknown or disputed, as with Arthur, Evelyn, Eleanor, Imogen and Arlo, the table says meaning debated.
Nicknames checked too. Every nickname listed is recorded by Behind the Name as a pet form or short form of that name.

Questions about British baby names

What are the most popular baby names in the UK?

In England and Wales, the most popular names for babies born in 2025 were Olivia for girls and Muhammad for boys, according to the Office for National Statistics. In Scotland they were Freya and Noah, and in Northern Ireland Grace and Noah.

Where do UK baby name rankings come from?

They come from birth registrations. The Office for National Statistics publishes the figures for England and Wales, National Records of Scotland publishes Scotland’s, and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency publishes Northern Ireland’s. There is no single official list for the whole UK.

Are Muhammad and Mohammed counted together?

No. The ONS counts every spelling as a separate name. Muhammad was given to 5,957 boys in 2025 and Mohammed to 1,712. With Mohammad, Muhammed and Mohamed added, the total is 9,189.

Are the name meanings on this page reliable?

Each meaning is a short summary of the etymology given by Behind the Name, which traces names back to their original languages and cites its sources. When experts disagree or the meaning is unknown, we say so instead of printing a guess.

When does the new baby names list come out?

The ONS publishes baby names for England and Wales the year after the births. The 2025 figures were released on 9 July 2026, so the 2026 figures are expected in 2027. Scotland and Northern Ireland usually publish earlier in the year.

Should I avoid a top 10 name?

Not necessarily. Even Olivia, the No. 1 girls’ name, was given to fewer than 1 in 100 girls born in England and Wales in 2025. If you would rather your child did not share a name with classmates, look at names ranked from about 40 to 100.

Can I give my baby a nickname as their full name?

Yes, and many British parents do. Freddie, Archie, Theo, Alfie and Teddy are all in the boys’ top 40 in their own right, and Elsie, Rosie, Lottie, Evie and Millie in the girls’ top 40.

Are British and American baby names different?

Quite a lot. Muhammad, Arthur, George, Freddie and Alfie are far more popular in England and Wales, while Liam, the No. 1 boys’ name in the US, was only No. 68 here. Olivia, Noah and Theodore are popular in both.

Sources

Office for National Statistics: Baby names for girls in England and Wales, 2025 and for boys (released 9 July 2026, retrieved 1 November 2026). Used for every rank, count and change in rank. Names given to fewer than three babies are not published.
National Records of Scotland: Babies’ first names 2025 (26 May 2026). Used for the Scottish top names.
NISRA: Baby names 2025 (16 April 2026). Used for the Northern Ireland top names.
Behind the Name (main entries for each name and its root name, read 1 November 2026). Used for every meaning, origin and nickname. Each name in the tables links to its entry.

A note on meanings. Name meanings are a guide to a name’s history, not a promise about a child. Many names have more than one possible origin, and meanings can differ between languages, faiths and families. We have summarised the most reliable explanation we could find and marked names whose meaning is uncertain. If a meaning matters for religious or family reasons, please check it with your own trusted source. Rankings are for England and Wales unless we say otherwise, and change every year. Last checked: 1 November 2026.

More name ideas: American baby names with meanings · Indian baby names with meanings · baby names from around the world · nicknames A to Z · Baby Name Finder

British Baby Names With Meanings: 300 Popular UK Names (2025)