Most popular baby names of 2024

The new year's baby name charts have arrived, and we're seeing some fascinating shifts in parental preferences across the US and UK. In the United States, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys in 2024, dethroning Liam who held the #1 position last year. For girls, Olivia remains the reigning champion, maintaining her crown from 2023. Rounding out the top three, we have Liam and Oliver for boys, and Amelia and Emma for girls, with Amelia making a notable jump from fourth place last year.

Looking deeper into the top 10 girls' names, Olivia's continued dominance signals parents' enduring love for this classic yet contemporary choice. Amelia has made an impressive climb to the second position, while Emma slipped one spot to third. Perhaps the most striking movement is Charlotte's drop from third to fifth place. Sophia maintains a steady presence in the top five, while Isabella and Ava hold their ground in the upper ranks. The most dramatic rise belongs to Ellie, which jumped 18 positions from #27 last year to break into the top 10 at #9. Luna continues to shine at #10, reflecting parents' ongoing fascination with celestial names.

For boys, the top 10 landscape has seen a significant reorganization. Noah's ascent to #1 marks a notable shift, while Liam steps down to second place after leading the charts in 2023. Mateo continues its remarkable rise, securing fifth place after being sixth last year—a name that wasn't even in the top 20 a few years ago. Levi has climbed to seventh place, while Ezra and Asher have both made impressive jumps to enter the top 10. Leo rounds out the top tier at #10, maintaining its position from last year. Interestingly, names like William and Benjamin, which were fixtures in the top 10 previously, have now fallen out of this elite group.

Several broader naming patterns emerge when examining the full rankings. Short, vowel-rich names continue to dominate for both genders, with many top choices featuring just 4-5 letters. For girls, the "-a" ending remains incredibly popular, with six of the top 10 names (Olivia, Amelia, Sophia, Isabella, Ava, Luna) featuring this melodic conclusion. Nature-inspired names are gaining momentum, with choices like Luna, Violet, Nova, and Ivy climbing the charts for girls. For boys, biblical names maintain a strong presence, with Noah, Elijah, Levi, and Ezra all in the top 10. We're also seeing a clear preference for names with an "L" sound, particularly at the beginning, with Liam, Levi, and Leo all ranking highly. The British naming landscape shows some distinct differences from American trends, with more traditional choices like George, Arthur, and Freddie ranking highly for boys, while Isla, Freya, and Lily lead the girls' charts in the UK.

Top baby names of 2024