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
Zunaira		Girl	Moonlight; Shine of the moon
Coral-Name-Origin,-Meaning,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Girl	Underwater limestone skeleton; Precious gemstone made by polishing coral
Mercy		Girl	Compassion; Reward
Everleigh		Girl	Boar meadow; Boar clearing
Carina		Girl	Beloved; Pure; Each of the two
Hibba		Girl	Gift
Valeria		Girl	To be strong or brave
Jada		Girl	Gift; Precious stone; Jade; He knows
Abeeha		Girl	Her father
Sofie		Girl	Wisdom; Holy wisdom
Esra		Girl	Travel at night; Help
Esmeralda		Girl	Emerald
Aleen		Girl	Good-looking; Rosy; Noble; Light
Whitney-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-What-You-Need-To-Know		Unisex	By the white island
Jayda		Girl	Precious stone Jade; Stone of the flank; He knows; Wise; Gift
Emilee		Girl	Rival; Industrious
Matilde		Girl	Mighty in battle
Cadence		Girl	Rhythm; Flow; Falling
Asia		Girl	East; Yahweh is gracious; Resurrection; Defending men
Ilana		Unisex	Tree
Avaani		Girl	Earthly; From the Earth
Avaya		Boy	Life
Leonora		Girl	God is my light; Light; Bright; The other Aenor; Shining; Light; Torch
Blythe		Girl	Happy
Hadiyah		Girl	Guide to righteousness; Gift from Allah; Blessing of God; Offered by Allah
Mimi-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-and-History:-Ultimate-Guide		Girl	Beloved; Loveliness; Sea of bitterness
Eleonora		Girl	Shining bright light coming from above
Oli		Girl	Olive tree; Ancestor's descendant; Chant
Armin		Boy	Soldier; Protector; Guardian; Universal; Whole
Devansh-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Part of God
Saleh		Boy	Virtuous
Luc		Boy	From Lucania; Light
Samar		Girl	Evening conversations; Fruit; Profit; Battle; War
Cash-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Money; Money box
Lucius		Boy	Light
Kamal		Boy	Lotus; Beauty; Perfection
Kal-el		Boy	God
Sawyer		Unisex	Who saws wood
Rudra-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-What-You-Need-To-Know		Unisex	Born of Lord Brahma's fury; Dreadful; Formidable; Howling; Roaring; Lord Shiva
Nixon		Boy	Son of Nick
Gino-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-History-And-Popularity		Boy	God is gracious
Senan-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Little old one
Jacques		Boy	May God protect; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Frederik		Boy	Peaceful ruler
Gurfateh		Boy	Victory of the Guru
Beniamin		Boy	Son of the right hand; Son of the south
Layth		Boy	A wildcat; Lion
Shiv		Boy	Lord Shiva; Auspicious; Lucky
Kash-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Your-Complete-Guide		Boy	Box-maker; Wealth
Thierry		Boy	Ruler of the people
Kornel		Boy	Horn
Tariq		Boy	Visitor; Knocker at the door
Fahad		Boy	Panther
Percival-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Pierce the valley; Hard spears
Harlee		Girl	Hare of the clearing; Farm of the rocks
Zebedee		Boy	Yahweh has bestowed
Arya		Boy	Noble; Aryan; Song; Melody
Nick		Boy	Victory of the people
Clement		Boy	Gentle; Merciful; Warm-hearted
Krishna:-Origin,-Meaning,-And-History---Complete-Guide		Boy	Dark or black; All-attractive
Findlay		Boy	Son of Fionnlagh; White warrior
Kavin		Boy	Beautiful and handsome man; Beauty; Grace; Fairness
Sunny		Unisex	Sunshine; Cheerful temperament
Ayomide		Unisex	My joy has arrived
Ashar		Boy	Alarm; Notify; Advise; Observe; Brave
Kymani		Boy	Adventurous traveler
Emile		Boy	Rival; Eager; Emulating
Arvin		Boy	Copious; Abundant; Rich; Eagle friend
Kyren		Unisex	Lord have mercy
Kerem		Girl	Generous; Noble; Vineyard
Immanuel		Boy	God is with us
Darcy-Name-Meaning-in-2025:-Origin,-History-&-Pronunciation		Girl	Dark-haired; One from the town of Arcy
Harman		Boy	Army man
Angad		Boy	Of my own body; An ornament; Son of Vali
Aedan-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Fire; Little fire
Forest-Name-Meaning:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Woodlands; Woodsman; One who lives near the forest; Outside
Kennedy		Girl	Helmeted head; Armored head
Josef		Boy	He will add
Eshaan		Boy	God; Supreme Being; Lord; One of the many names of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu; Sun
Jimi		Unisex	Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Sid-Baby-Name-Origin-&-Meaning:-What-You-Need-To-Know		Boy	Wide island; One who has accomplished a goal; Of Sidon, Truthful; Like a star
Noemi		Girl	Pleasantness; Delight
Nila		Girl	Dark blue; Sapphire
Minha		Girl	Jade; Nimble; Quick; Humble; Hardworking; Well-mannered; River; Lotus; A gift from Allah
Tori-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-&-Variations		Girl	Victory
Shyla		Girl	Blind; Daughter of the mountain
Effy-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	To use words of good omen; Fruitful; Fruitful place
Meryem-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Beloved; Wished for child; Sea of bitterness
Riva		Girl	To join; To tie; To snare
Zimal		Girl	Robe; Garment; Preparation for a journey
Aine		Girl	Splendor; Radiance; Brilliance; Love sound; The only one; My eye; Descendant; Scene; Sight
Aiya		Unisex	Bird; Falcon; Verse; Evidence
Valerie		Girl	To be strong, brave, and healthy
Aura		Girl	Breeze; Soft wind; Golden
Ananya-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Complete-Guide		Boy	One-of-a-kind; Unique; One who has no match; Inimatable; Exclusive
Rachael		Girl	Ewe; Female sheep
Zuri		Unisex	Beautiful; Bright; Light; My shelter; My rock
Maha-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity-in-2025		Girl	Beautiful Eyes; Half moon; Sun; Planet; Mirror; Shining white pearl
Irene		Girl	Peace
Bow		Boy	One who lives near a bow, arch, or bend

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