Top Baby Names In UK For 2018

Names loved and approved by parents in the UK.

In the olden days, parents often chose baby names from the Bible, like David (beloved) or Elizabeth (my God is an oath). And even though these names are still popular today, the top UK baby names in 2018 indicate that parents are also considering options without religious significance. In 2018, Oliver (olive tree planter) topped the list as the most popular boy’s name, while Olivia (olive tree) was the favorite for girls in the UK. This indicated that parents are willing to explore new and fresh names.

Royal names like Harry (home ruler), George (farmer), Isabella (pledged to God), and Charlotte (free man) were also popular as these names indicated elegance and nobility. At the same time, simple names such as Max (the greatest), Eva (Mother of life), Finley (fair warrior), and Millie (gentle strength) also found a place on the popularity chart as parents were attracted to their deep meaning and innocent charm. The list below consists of the most popular baby names in the UK, compiled by the Office for National Statistics (1). Have a look to find a trendy and meaningful 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
Nikolas		Boy	Victory of the people
Kaden		Boy	Fighter; Battler
Andreas-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Popularity		Boy	Manly and strong
Kamil		Boy	Perfect; He who is perfect; A youth employed in religious services
Emmett-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Truth; Universal; Whole; Great
Rian		Boy	King; Little king; Descendant of Rían; Little red one
Bethan		Girl	My God is an oath
Evalyn		Girl	Life; Desired; Bird; Hazelnut; Lake
Alanna-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Girl	Harmony; Offering; Beautiful; Exalted; Precious; Child
Jasmin		Girl	Jasmine flower; God's gift
Ema		Girl	Whole; Great
Juliet		Girl	Young; Youthful; Jove's child; Devoted to Jove; Downy-bearded
Cecilia-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Complete-Guide		Girl	Blind
Tamara-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-2025		Girl	Date palm tree; One who loves the land
Natasha-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Girl	Christmas day; Born on Christmas day
Kyron		Boy	Hands; Skilled with the hands; Black; Black-haired
Bruce		Boy	From the woods; The willowlands
Kyan		Boy	Ancient; Enduring
Kyran		Boy	Beam of light; Black
Bryan		Boy	Strong; Noble; High; Hill
Atlas		Boy	To endure; Bearer of the heavens
Reagan		Boy	Little king
Vihaan-Baby-Name-Complete-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity		Boy	Dawn; Morning
Yara-Origin,-Meaning,-And-Popularity:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Lady of the lake; Friend; Helper; Small butterfly; Courage; Strength
Rumaysa-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Astrology-&-More		Girl	Bold; Star
Jenna		Girl	White phantom; Fair lady; Supernatural; God is merciful; God is Gracious
Carla		Girl	Free man; Army
Joy-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Happiness; Great pleasure; Delight; Rejoice
Shayan		Boy	Worthy; Deserving; Beautiful; People of different language
Matias		Boy	Gift of Yahweh
Raife		Unisex	Counsel of the wolf; Wise wolf
Reyansh-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Nicknames		Boy	First ray of the morning sun; Part of a stream; A name of Lord Vishnu
Jai		Boy	Victory; Supplanter; Healer
Jakob		Boy	Holder of the heel; Supplanter; May God protect
Leela		Girl	Play; Amusement; Princess of darkness
Theia:-Everything-You-Need-To-Know-About-This-Divine-Name		Girl	She who is like a goddess; Divine
Millicent		Girl	Strong; Vigorous; Courageous
Elissa		Boy	My God is an oath
Nela		Girl	Praiseworthy; Horn
Ian		Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Drew		Boy	Manly; Masculine; Virile
Oisin		Boy	Little deer
Cyrus-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	Sun; Lord; Young; Hero
Mckenzie		Girl	Son of Coinneach (handsome, beautiful, good)
Raymond		Boy	Counseling protector; Advice; Decision
Rehan		Boy	Basil
Alayah		Girl	Highborn; Lofty; Sublime
Elif		Girl	One with a slender body; Shaped like an elif
Khloe-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Popularity,-And-Variations		Girl	Green shoot
Amna		Unisex	Safe; Caring; Honest
Jovan		Boy	God is gracious; From Jupiter
Neo		Unisex	New; Gift; Peak of love
Krish		Boy	Black or dark
Raheem		Boy	Kind; Compassionate; Merciful; Tenderhearted
Guy-Name-Meaning-And-History:-What-You-Need-To-Know-For-2025		Boy	Wood; Valley
Maison		Boy	Stoneworker; Home
Cristian-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Christian; Followers of Christ
Melanie		Girl	Black; Dark; Dark-skinned
Helen-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-History-&-Trends		Girl	Warm; Moon; To shine; Light; Sun
Harleigh		Boy	Rock meadow; Hare meadow
Aayat		Girl	Signs; Clues; Proofs; Verses from the Quran; Miracle or signs of the divine
Theodora		Girl	Gift from God
Rania		Girl	Looking at; Gazing; Heavenly; Winner; Successful
Killian-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide		Boy	Little church; War; Strife; Bright-headed; Little warrior; Monk's cell; Fiery; Strife
Roscoe		Boy	Forest of the roebuck; Deer forest; Doe wood
Jaxx		Unisex	Son of Jack
Matas		Boy	God's gift
Alec		Boy	Defender of the people
Keyaan		Boy	Essence; Being; King; Leader; High status
Fionn:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Meaning,-History,-And-Popularity		Boy	White; Fair-headed; Blessed
Elora		Boy	God is my light; Sun ray
Mae-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-Mythology,-And-Popularity-Insights		Girl	A bitter pearl; The month of May; Mother; Lovable
Elara		Girl	Spear-shaft; Hazelnut; Ruler of all
Ines		Girl	Pure; Chaste; Holy; Lamb; Kindness; Caress; Companion
Abbas		Boy	Austere; Lion
Raees-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Leader; Chief; Master; Head; Boss
Arnie-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Eagle ruler; Eagle power; Strong as eagle
Caspar		Boy	Treasurer
Jared		Boy	He who descended; Rose; One who rules
Zackary		Boy	Yahweh remembers; God has remembered
Zaid-Name-Meaning:-Everything-You-Need-To-Know		Boy	Increase; Growth
Jorge		Boy	Farmer; Earthworker
Clay		Boy	Clay worker; Made of clay; Clay settlement
Alisa		Girl	Noble; Kind; Nobility; Great happiness
Rosanna-Name-Meaning:-Guide-To-Origin,-History,-And-Variations		Girl	Rose; Fame; Dew; Favor; Grace
Christina-Name-Meaning,-Origin-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Girl	Anointed; Follower of Jesus Christ
Alesha		Girl	Noble; Nobility; Protected by God
Lili		Girl	Oath of God; Lily; Night
Una		Girl	One; Lamb; Foremost
Tillie-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-More		Girl	Strength in battle
Byron		Boy	Barn; From the barn; Place of the cow sheds
Usman		Boy	Baby bustard; Wise; Most powerful
Adnan		Boy	Settler
Wesley-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide-In-2025		Boy	West meadow
Hasnain		Boy	Handsome; Beautiful; Good; Fine
Gideon-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Essential-Guide		Boy	Great warrior; feller; hewer
Riya-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-Your-Baby		Girl	Singer; Beloved
Margo		Boy	Pearl
Zoey		Girl	Eternal Life; Life; To breathe; Alive; To live
Daisy-Mae:-23-Ways-To-Explore-Pronunciation,-Meaning,-And-More		Girl	Day eye

When you look at the list of top UK baby names in 2018, you might feel overwhelmed by the several options. To make the selection easy, start by determining the meaning you want your child’s name to convey. Then focus on the names that match the meaning. Shortlist your favorites, and then choose the one that feels right for your little one. No matter which name you pick, it will always hold a special place in your heart.

Infographic: Popular Nature-inspired Girl Names In The UK

Nature’s freshness can make a person feel calm and rejuvenated. The natural world can help lift your spirits and inspire creativity. That’s why many cultures choose baby names that are connected to nature, and the UK is no different. Take a look at the infographic below for a glimpse of the most popular nature-inspired baby girl names in the country.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team