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
Margo		Boy	Pearl
Beth-Name-Meaning:-Origins,-Variations,-And-Popularity-Insights		Girl	My God is an oath; House of figs
Izabela-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	My God is an oath
Princess-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Complete-Guide		Girl	Daughter of the monarch; Royal daughter
Zoey		Girl	Eternal Life; Life; To breathe; Alive; To live
Riya-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-Your-Baby		Girl	Singer; Beloved
Ember		Girl	Spark; Precious stone
Sulayman		Boy	A prophet's name; Solomon
Esa-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-Variants-&-Popularity		Boy	Yahweh is salvation; God is my salvation
Simeon		Boy	Obedient; Listening; Hearing
Emir-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide		Boy	Prince; Commander; Immortal
Ciaran-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-And-Pronunciation		Boy	Dark-haired; Dark-complexioned; Black; Mountain range; Bright; Famous
Kajus		Boy	To rejoice; Delight
Emil		Boy	Rival
Fynn		Boy	Fair; Blessed; Person from Finland
Theodor-Baby-Name-Guide:-Pronunciation,-Origin-&-Popularity		Boy	A gift of god
Ishaan-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Lord; Guardian of the north-east direction; Lord Shiva
Maximillian		Boy	The greatest
Liberty-Name-Meaning:-Ultimate-Guide-To-Origin-&-Variations		Unisex	Freedom; Independence; Liberation; Free will
Cory-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	In a cauldron; In a hollow; Maiden
Lula		Girl	Born at daybreak; Famous warrior; Flower; Pearl
Hubert		Boy	Bright heart; Mind-bright; Shining intellect
Dua		Girl	Prayer; I want; I love
Lilian-Name-Meaning,-History-&-5-Variations-Explained		Girl	Lily
Deen		Boy	A certain way of life; Faith
Henri		Boy	Home ruler
Tomasz		Boy	A twin; One of the two born children
Warren		Boy	Protector; Guard; Animal enclosure
Caspian		Boy	White; Caspian sea
Soraya		Girl	Rich; Princess; The Pleiades; Star cluster
Shane		Unisex	God is gracious
Dorian		Boy	Gift; Of Doris; Child of the sea
Kobe		Boy	Holder of the heel; May God protect; City of Kobe; Tortoise
Ishaq		Boy	To laugh
Harlen-Name-Origin,-Meaning,-And-Popularity:-Essential-Guide		Boy	Meadow of the hares
Angelica		Girl	Messenger of God; Angelic
Mahnoor		Girl	Light of the moon
Lylah		Girl	Night; Night beauty; Delicate
Andreea		Girl	Male; Manly; Brave; Virility
Nathanael		Boy	Gift of God; God has given
Jamal-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-All-You-Need-To-Know		Boy	Beauty
Gregory-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Alert; Watchful; Swift; Quick
Renae		Girl	Born again
Viktoria		Girl	Victory
Raul		Boy	Counsel; Advice; Wolf
Tudor		Boy	Ruler of the people; Gift of god
Karter		Boy	Transporter of goods by carts; One who uses a cart
Matthias		Boy	God's gift
Kendall		Girl	Kent river valley; Valley of kings
Jana		Girl	God is gracious; To Earn; To Reap; Creature; Living being
Siya		Girl	White moonlight; Beautiful woman; Goddess Sita
Mikail-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Who is like God
Arielle		Girl	Lioness of God
Jayce		Unisex	Healer; To cure
Agatha		Girl	Good
Jaylen		Boy	Tranquil; Blue-crested bird
Brogan-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-Popularity-Guide		Boy	Little shoe; Strong; Son of Brogan
Greta		Girl	Pearl
Emilija		Girl	Rival
Hayley		Girl	Hay clearing; Fence; Nook; Valley
Eryn		Girl	Ireland
Coco		Girl	Chocolate bean; Palm tree; Help
Leonie		Girl	Lioness
May-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-History-&-Popularity		Girl	The fifth month
Isobelle		Girl	My God is an oath
Lavinia		Girl	The daughter of King Latinus
Crystal		Unisex	Crystal; Ice
Celeste-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-For-Parents		Boy	Heavenly
Saif		Boy	Sword; The protector of something
Qasim		Boy	One who distributes goods among his people; To divide or share
Winston		Boy	Stone of joy
Harper-Name-Origin,-Meaning,-And-History:-Key-Insights		Unisex	Someone who plays the harp
Lee-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	Clearing; Meadow
Issa		Unisex	God is salvation; God saves
Damien-Name-Meaning,-Origin-And-Popularity-Ultimate-Guide		Boy	Master; To tame; Divine power
Ronald		Boy	Ruler's counsel; Ruler's advice
Orlando		Boy	Famous in the land
Santino		Boy	Little saint
Eryk		Boy	Ever ruler
Dominykas		Boy	One who belongs to the Lord
Alexandros		Boy	Defender of mankind
Montague		Boy	The pointed end of the mountain; Sharp mountain
Herbert		Boy	Bright army
Talha		Boy	Fruit-bearing tree
Artur		Boy	Bear; Bear-like; Bold; Courageous; Skill; Art
Marcie		Girl	Dedicated to Mars; War-like; Male
Iga		Boy	War battle; Fire
Sylvia-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-5-Essential-Facts		Girl	A lady of the woods or forest
Marina		Girl	Of the sea; Belonging to the sea
Romy		Unisex	Dew of the sea; Sea of bitterness; Rebelliousness; Wished for child; Beloved; Love; Famous kind or type
Harleen-Name:-Guide-To-Meaning,-Pronunciation,-Popularity		Girl	Meadow of the hare; The clearing with lots of rabbits
Reya		Girl	Graceful; Queen; To flow
Alessandro		Boy	Defender of mankind
Malaika		Girl	Angel
Veronica		Girl	She who brings victory; True image
Aqsa		Girl	Farthest; Most distant
Laiba		Girl	Angel of heaven; Prettiest Woman in all the heavens
Lainey		Girl	Torch; Bright light
Hamzah:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Meaning-&-Popularity		Boy	Strong; Steadfast; Lion
Franky		Boy	Frenchman; A Germanic tribe; Land of the Franks; Spear

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