Top Baby Names In UK For 2017

Delve into a sea of popular names to find the perfect name for your child.

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Last Updated on Oct 14, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Over the years, we’ve seen some names come and go from the popularity chart. But certain traditional names have enjoyed a stable popularity. The top UK baby names 2017 list is led by the masculine name Oliver (olive tree planter) and the feminine name Olivia (olive tree) which indicates parents’ love for traditional names with a long history and familiarity. Names that belong to royal figures also enjoy immense popularity in the country. Popular names like Amelia (work), Harry (home ruler), George (farmer), and Isabella (pledged to God) prove that parents associate royal names with power and prestige making them alluring choices for a baby name.

A notable trend in baby names is the love for short names with deep meanings. For boys, names like Jack (God is gracious), Noah (comfort), and Leo (lion) became quite popular, while Isla (island), Ava (guarantee), and Lily (oath of God) became preferred choices for girls. Gender-neutral names such as Charlie (free man), Sienna (wickerwork), and Teddy (rich guard) also earned much love and attention from parents, indicating the growing demand for flexible names. But that’s not all—many more popular and beloved names are in the list below. Compiled by the Office for National Statistics (1), this collection of popular names in the UK can help you discover the perfect name for your little one.

In This Article

Browse Top Baby Names by Gender

Girl Boy

Browse Top Baby Names by Year

Name		Gender	Meaning
Oliver		Boy	Olive; Olive tree planter; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
Olivia		Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Amelia		Girl	Hard working; Industrious
Harry		Boy	Ruler of the household
George		Boy	Farmer; Earth worker
Emily		Girl	To strive; To excel; Hardworking; Rival
Jack		Boy	God is gracious; Healthy; Supplanter
Isla		Girl	Island
Ava		Girl	Desire; Life; Bird-like; Voice; Sound
Jacob		Boy	May God protect; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Isabella		Girl	God is my oath
Noah		Unisex	Rest; Comfort
Charlie		Unisex	Free man; Army
Lily		Girl	Name of a flower; Purity; Innocence
Muhammad		Boy	Praiseworthy; Praised one; Praise; Commendable
Jessica		Girl	God beholds
Ella		Girl	Beautiful; Goddess; Other
Thomas		Boy	Twin
Mia		Girl	Mine; Dear; Darling; Wished-for child; Sea of bitterness; Beloved; Rebelliousness
Oscar		Boy	God's spear; Friend of deer
William		Boy	Will; Protector
Sophia		Girl	She who possesses great knowledge and wisdom
James		Boy	Supplanter
Charlotte		Girl	Free person; Petite
Leo		Boy	Lion
Poppy		Girl	Red flowering plant
Sophie		Girl	She who is wise
Alfie		Boy	Elf counsel
Henry		Boy	Home ruler
Grace		Girl	Goodness; Generosity
Joshua		Boy	God is salvation
Evie		Girl	Life; Breathe; Hazelnut
Alice		Girl	Noble; Kind; Nobility
Freddie		Boy	Peace
Archie		Boy	Holy and bold; Genuine and brave; Brave master
Scarlett		Girl	The color scarlet; Bright red; A person who sold or made clothes made of scarlet
Ethan		Boy	Enduring; Firm; Strong
Freya		Girl	A noble woman
Isaac		Boy	He will laugh; He will rejoice; Laughter
Florence		Girl	Flourishing; Prosperous
Isabelle		Girl	My God is an oath; Devoted to God
Alexander		Boy	Defender of mankind
Joseph		Boy	He will add; Praise
Daisy		Girl	Daisy flower; Day eye
Chloe		Girl	Fresh blooming; Ripe green shoot; Yellow
Edward		Boy	Rich guard
Samuel		Boy	Name of God; God has heard
Phoebe		Girl	Bright; Radiant
Max		Boy	The greatest
Matilda		Girl	Strength in battle
Logan		Boy	Little hollow
Ruby		Girl	A precious red jewel; Red gemstone
Lucas		Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Evelyn		Girl	Life; Hazelnut; Lake; Beauty
Daniel		Boy	God is my judge
Sienna		Unisex	Reddish brown clay; From city if Siena
Sofia		Girl	Wisdom
Theo		Boy	Gift of God; God; Folk; People
Arthur		Boy	Bear king; Bear
Eva		Girl	To breathe; To live; Mother of life; Full of life
Elsie		Girl	God is my oath; Pledged to God
Mohammed		Boy	Praised; Commendable
Harrison		Boy	House ruler; Son of Harry
Benjamin		Boy	Son of the right hand; Son of the south
Ivy		Girl	Climber plant; Fig
Mason		Boy	Stone worker
Millie		Girl	Gentle strength; Brave
Esme		Boy	Esteemed; Love; Supreme
Finley		Boy	Fair hero; White Warrior
Sebastian		Boy	From Sebaste; Venerable; Exalted
Rosie		Girl	Rose; Famous type
Adam		Boy	Son of the Earth; Formed of earth; Red; One from the soil
Imogen		Girl	Maiden; Beloved child
Dylan		Boy	To tide; To flow
Elizabeth		Girl	My God is an oath
Zachary		Boy	Yahweh has remembered; To remember
Maya		Girl	Illusion; Magic; Sea of bitterness; Beloved; Good mother; Dame
Riley		Boy	Clearing of rye; Valiant
Layla		Girl	Night; Dark
Emilia		Girl	Rival; Laborious; Eager
Teddy		Unisex	Rich guard; Gift of God
Lola		Girl	Sorrows
Theodore		Unisex	God's gift
Lucy		Girl	Light
David		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Elijah		Boy	Yahweh is my God
Jake		Boy	Holder of the heel; Supplanter; Yahweh is gracious
Eliza		Girl	My God is an oath; Pledged to God; Joyful
Erin		Boy	Ireland; Green water; From the island
Toby		Boy	Yahweh is good
Eleanor		Girl	The other Aenor; Shining light; Riches; Fame
Louie		Boy	Famous warrior
Ellie		Girl	God is my light; My God is an oath; Torch
Reuben		Boy	Behold a son
Thea		Girl	Divine; Greek Goddess Theia
Harriet		Girl	Home ruler
Arlo		Boy	Fortified hill; Between two highlands
Hugo		Boy	Mind; Spirit; Thought
Maisie		Girl	Pearl
Jaxon		Boy	Son of Jack; God is gracious

Finding the perfect name for your little one is not an easy task. So, this list of top UK baby names in 2017 can help you understand the names that most parents across the country have chosen for their children. You may glance through the names and shortlist the ones you prefer before finally deciding upon the final name for your child. Whether you opt for a popular name or something more unique, remember to choose a name your child will be proud to carry.

Infographic: Popular Spiritual Names For UK Babies In 2017

Historically and across civilizations, names with religious connotations have been popular with parents. These names are seen to honor one’s faith and connect the child to their spiritual heritage. The infographic below offers a look at baby names with spiritual meanings that were popular in the UK in 2017. Have a look to see if any of these names suit your preference.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team