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
Neive		Girl	Bright; Beauty
Nya		Girl	Friend; Young; Purpose
Ewa		Girl	Breathe; Live
Fathima		Girl	A woman who abstains
Ilaria		Girl	Cheerful; Merry
Aaisha		Boy	Living; Alive
Niah		Unisex	Purpose; Bright
Talitha		Girl	Little girl; Young girl
Isabell		Girl	God is my oath
Menaal		Girl	Special flower of heaven
Navya		Girl	To be praised, laudable
Calla		Girl	Beauty; Lily; Type of plants
Posy		Girl	A bunch of flowers; He will add
Faiza		Girl	Victorious; Winner
Kaitlin		Girl	Pure
Fallon		Boy	Supreme; Descended from a ruler
Agata		Girl	Good; Agate
Eileen		Girl	Little bird; Strength; Wished for; Desired; Torch
Marika-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Sea of bitterness; Rebelliousness; Wished for child
Heavenly		Girl	Of the heavens; Celestial; Divine
Maleeha		Girl	Woman with a happy, glowing face; Well-spoken; Beautiful Strong; Brownish color; Clever
Hazal		Girl	Gazelle; Antelope; Autumn
Kamila		Girl	Perfect; Young ceremonial attendant
Stacey		Unisex	Resurrection; Fruitful; Well-built or stable
Rhiannon-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Great queen; Great goddess
Montana-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Unisex	Mountainous
Hanaa		Girl	Happiness; Bliss; To enjoy; To gladden
Aayah		Girl	Evidence; Proof; Signs; Verse; Bird
Elianna-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Girl	Bright shining light; Sun
Oona		Girl	Lamb; Universal; Happy
Viktorija		Girl	Croatian form of Victoria; Victory
Rozalia-Name-Complete-Guide-To-Pronunciation,-Popularity-&-More		Girl	Rose; Pretty Rose; Beautiful rose
Tatiana		Girl	Fairy queen
Krisha		Girl	Black or dark
Safiyya-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity		Girl	Virtuous; Chosen; Pure
Tiara		Unisex	Crown; Treasure of heavenly love
Roxie		Girl	Bright star; Bright face; Shining; Dawn; Star; Dawn of the day
Sama		Girl	Sky
Mathilde		Girl	Mighty in battle; Warrior
Jenny		Unisex	White phantom; White ghost; White enchantress
Halimah		Girl	Forbearing; Gentle; Mild-mannered
Catalina-Name-Meaning-Guide:-Origin,-History,-And-Popularity		Girl	Purity; Each of the two
Clarissa		Girl	Bright; Clear
Kendra		Girl	Knowing; Handsome; Respect; Old power; Bold power; Chief hero
Khadeeja		Girl	Premature child
Asees		Boy	Blessings
Catrin		Girl	Pure; Each of the two; My consecration of your name; Dandy-like gentleman
Amrita		Girl	Immortal
Nyra		Girl	Wetland; Ionian; Plowed field
Cienna		Girl	From the city of Siena; Orange-reddish color
Jayla		Unisex	God will protect; Victory
Anabella		Girl	Lovable; Graceful and beautiful
Marlon		Boy	Little hawk; Mars; Dedicated to Mars; Male; Little warlike one
Codey		Boy	Descendant of the helpful one
Felipe		Boy	Horse lover
Jaxxon		Boy	Son of Jack
Apollo-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity		Boy	Greek Sun God; Strength; Father lion; Father light
Willoughby		Unisex	Willow grove; Settlement near a willow meadow
Kenan		Boy	Possession; Humble; Little wolf
Marek-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-Variants-&-Popularity		Boy	Warlike; Dedicated to Mars; Rebellious; Sea of bitterness
Harveer		Boy	Warrior of God; Brave Defendant for the Lord; One who is victorious over destruction; A variant of Harvir
Shawn		Girl	Yahweh is gracious; God is gracious
Daud-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Ebenezer		Boy	Stone of help
Jameel		Boy	To be beautiful; A handsome man
Christos		Boy	Anointed; Good; Useful
Yohan		Boy	God is gracious; Shine; Sparkle; Sunlight
Rihan		Unisex	Sweet basil
Federico-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-3-Key-Insights		Boy	A ruler who rules in peace
Nikhil		Boy	Perfect; Complete; Whole; All-inclusive; Intact
Sonnie-Name-Meaning:-3-Essential-Facts-On-Origin-&-History		Boy	Son; Wisdom
Wren		Girl	Small, singing bird
Faaris		Boy	Horseman; Knight
Larry-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Complete-Guide-To-Variations		Boy	From Laurentum
Yu		Unisex	Jade; Precious stone; Pleasant; The elegant one; To oppose
Negan		Unisex	Powerful; Dominant; Ruthless
Jethro		Boy	Eminent; Excellence; Abundance
Barnabas-Name-Guide:-Origins,-Meaning,-Popularity-&-More		Boy	Son of encouragement; Son of the Prophet
Javier		Boy	The new house
Thaddeus-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Variations		Unisex	Heart; Courageous; Gift of God
Roel		Boy	Famous land; Famous wolf; Famous ruler
Aziz-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Powerful; Respected; Beloved
Kurt		Boy	Brave counsel
Roland		Boy	Famous land; Glorious territory; From the famous land
Haseeb		Boy	Noble; Respected; Reckoner; A variant of Hasib
Raffi		Boy	God heals; Noble; Exalter
Diyan		Boy	Divine light; To do; Action
Ediz		Boy	High
Suleman		Boy	Peaceful man
Arnav		Boy	Ocean; Sea
Cj		Unisex	Abbreviation of first and middle names; J usually stands for Junior
Kaif		Boy	Pleasure; High spirit
Imaad		Boy	Support; Pillar
Knox-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-&-Popularity-In-2025:-Key-Insights		Boy	Round hill; A hillock; Hump
Aleem		Boy	Knowledge; Learned; Expert
Hardy		Boy	Brave; Heroic; Daring
Kassius		Boy	Vain; Empty
Sasha:-A-Complete-Guide-To-Its-Meaning,-History,-And-Popularity		Unisex	Defender; Helper of mankind
Mickey		Boy	Who is like God
Joaquim		Boy	Raised by Yahweh; Yahweh will establish

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