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
Perrie		Girl	Pear tree; Son of Herry; Home ruler
Noura		Girl	Light; Bloom; Blossom;
Zephaniah		Boy	Yahweh has hidden
Zeeshan		Boy	Possessor of; Owner of
Yash-Baby-Name:-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity		Boy	Glory; Fame; Success
Johan		Boy	God is gracious
Waleed		Boy	Newborn; Just born
Enes		Boy	Friendly
Erick-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-Variations,-And-Popularity		Boy	Eternal ruler; Powerful ruler
Clarke		Boy	Clerk; Priest; Scribe
Kion		Boy	Ocean; Request garden
Taylan		Boy	Tall
Chance		Boy	The one who has good fortune; Lucky
Sheikh		Boy	Elder; Tribe's leader; Islamic scholar
Baran		Boy	Noble warrior; Ram; Rain
Leopold		Boy	Brave and bold people; Lion
Baxter		Boy	A baker
Gary-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-And-Popularity		Boy	Enclosure; Spearman; Watchful
Salahuddin		Boy	Righteousness of religion
Aleks-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Defender of men
Sacha		Unisex	Defender; Helper of humankind; Defending men
Malachy		Boy	My angel; Disciple of Saint Máedóc; Second
Ahad		Boy	One; Unique; Matchless
Ozzy		Boy	Powerful God; Divine ruler; God's spear
Bleu		Boy	The color blue
Moise		Boy	Son; Deliver; Drew out; Drawn out of water
Nabil		Boy	Noble
Hussein		Boy	Handsome; Good; Beautiful
Melania		Girl	Black; Dark-skinned
Meera		Girl	Sea; Ocean; Boundary; Limit; Prosperous; Famous; Astonishing; Goodness
Mariana		Girl	Star of the sea; Grace
Maham		Girl	Moon
Luisa		Girl	Famous warrior
Lettie-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity:-2025-Guide		Girl	Joy; Delight
Leticia		Girl	Joy; Gladness
Kristina		Girl	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Zahraa		Girl	Brightness; Brilliance; Light
Keeva-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-A-Complete-Guide		Girl	Gentle; Beloved; Dear
Kaylee-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-&-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Laurel; Crown
Israa-Baby-Name:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Meaning-&-Popularity		Unisex	To travel at night
Isadora-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Gift of Isis
Teresa		Girl	Harvester
Ammara		Girl	One who builds; One who lives a long life; Thrive; Grace; Immortal
Everley		Girl	Boar meadow; Boar clearing
Ethel		Girl	Noble
Anne		Girl	Grace; Favor; Eagle
Araya		Boy	Leader by example; Good; Noble; Righteous; Wild valley
Arisha		Girl	Peaceful; Lion
Eliora		Girl	My God is my light
Tanisha		Unisex	Ambition
Habiba		Girl	Beloved; Lover; Darling; Sweetheart
Saira		Girl	A traveller
Eila		Girl	Blessed; Holy
Pandora-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-7-Adorable-Nicknames		Girl	All gifts
Orlagh		Girl	Golden princess
Rihanna-Name-Meaning-&-History:-Your-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	The herb basil; A sweet scent
Cassia		Girl	Empty; Vain; Pure; Cinnamon
Inigo-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	My little; Fire
Pedro-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-And-Key-Insights		Boy	Rock; Stone
Craig		Boy	Rock; Rocky; A steep rocky cliff; Crag; Outcrop
Petru		Boy	Rock; Stone; A variant of Pero; A form of Peter
Memphis-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin-&-History		Unisex	Enduring Beauty
Fabio		Boy	Bean farmer
Ailbe		Boy	Celtic: White; A variant of the name Ailbhe
Ansh		Boy	Portion; Excerpt; Part; Honesty
Ivar		Boy	Bow warrior; Army; Yew tree
Suleiman-Name-Guide:-Pronunciation,-Meaning-&-Popularity		Boy	Peace
Donnie		Girl	Ruler of the world; Chieftain; Brown-haired
Dragos		Boy	Precious; Peace; World
Marcell		Boy	A young warrior; Dedicated to Mars
Ricky-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Brave ruler; Famous ruler; Peaceful ruler; Ruler of the people; Home ruler; Nobleman
Azlan		Unisex	Lion
Niko-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-And-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Victory of the people
Maaz		Boy	One who seeks or gives shelter
Darwin		Boy	Dear friend
Nikolai		Boy	Victory; People
Fynley		Unisex	White warrior
Freja-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide-In-2025		Girl	Lady; Noblewoman
Isabela-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Girl	God is my oath
Zosia		Girl	Wisdom
Ettie		Girl	Home ruler; Star; God is my oath
Estelle		Girl	Star
Janelle		Girl	God is gracious
Aadhya		Girl	Original power; First creator; Unequaled; Perfect; Epithet for Goddess Durga
Siyana		Girl	Glow; Shine; Light; Silver
Eloisa		Girl	Healthy; Wide; Whole; Sun
Joanie		Girl	God is gracious
Juliana		Girl	Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove; Youthful; Juvenile
Rayna		Girl	Queen; Happy; Willing; Clean; Pure
Katerina		Girl	Pure; Clean; Clear; Each of the two
Rivka		Girl	Join; Tie; Snare
Roberta-Name:-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin,-History,-And-Nicknames		Girl	Bright fame
Christine		Girl	Follower of Jesus Christ; Anointed
Roxy		Girl	Dawn; Brilliant; Bright star; Bright face
Sybil		Girl	Prophetess; Oracle
Avah-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	To breathe; Life; Sound; Water; Bird
Aneira		Girl	Very snowy; Honor; Dignity; Esteem; Latin
Lidia-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	A person who is from Lydia
Makayla		Girl	Like God
Bea-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide		Girl	Blessed; Happy; Voyager

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