Most popular baby names of 2023

Looking at the 2023 baby name data, we're seeing some interesting patterns emerge. In the United States, the top three girls' names remained remarkably consistent from 2022 to 2023, with Olivia, Emma, and Charlotte maintaining their exact positions. The UK saw a slight shake-up, with Lily holding steady at #3, while Amelia and Isla remained the top two names for girls. This stability in top girls' names suggests parents continue to favor these classic yet contemporary choices.

Among boys' names in the US, the trio of Liam, Noah, and Oliver held their ground as the top three names for another year. The UK witnessed a significant change, with Noah climbing to the #1 spot in 2023, pushing Muhammad out of the top position it held in 2022. Oliver maintained its #2 ranking, while Leo remained firmly at #3. This marks a notable shift in UK naming preferences.

Looking deeper at the top 10 girls' names in 2023, Luna continues its meteoric rise, holding firmly at #10 in the US and climbing to #40 in the UK. Sophia and Mia remain extremely popular across both countries, showing their international appeal. The "-a" ending continues to dominate girls' naming patterns, with Olivia, Sophia, Amelia, Ava, and Mia all featuring prominently. Interestingly, shorter names like Luna, Mia, and Ava continue to appeal to parents seeking simplicity with style.

For boys' names in 2023, Theodore solidified its position in the top 10 in both countries, reflecting the ongoing popularity of classic names with modern appeal. Mateo made impressive gains in the US, climbing to #6 in 2023 from #11 in 2022, showing the growing influence of Hispanic naming traditions. The top 10 boys' names continue to feature a mix of biblical choices (Noah, Elijah), royal names (William, George), and classic masculine options (James, Henry). The trend toward shorter boys' names continues with Liam, Noah, Jack, and Leo all ranking highly.

Examining broader patterns, we're seeing a continued preference for vintage names making modern comebacks. Names like Evelyn, Theodore, and Eleanor remain popular, suggesting parents are looking to the past for inspiration. Shorter names with two syllables are trending across both genders, with Luna, Lily, Noah, and Levi all showing strong performance. Names with "L" sounds are particularly popular this year, especially among boys, with Liam, Lucas, Leo, and Luca all ranking high in both countries.

There's also a notable international consistency in naming preferences between the US and UK, with many names appearing in the top 50 of both countries. This suggests globalization and shared media are influencing naming patterns across English-speaking countries. While traditional gender distinctions in naming remain strong, we're seeing some softening around the edges, with names like Riley appearing on both boys' and girls' lists. Nature-inspired names like Lily, Willow, Ivy, and River continue to gain popularity, reflecting growing environmental consciousness among today's parents.

Top baby names of 2023