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
Adora		Girl	Adoration; Adored
Afia-Name-Guide:-Pronunciation,-Popularity,-And-Personality		Girl	A child who is born on Friday
Aima		Unisex	Fetches it; Whole; Generous amount; Beloved
Miranda		Girl	Worthy of admiration; Wonderful; Admirable
Shifa-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Complete-Guide		Girl	Sweet; Healing; Root of water-lily; Fibrous root; Mother
Alanah		Unisex	Little rock; Handsome; Precious; My child; Harmony; Elevated
Alva		Unisex	His Highness; Fairy; Elf
Ariam		Unisex	Gift from God
Annaliese		Girl	Graced with God's oath; Graced by God's bounty
Anisha		Girl	Sleepless; Nightless
Sufiyan		Girl	Wool; Pure; Clean; Thin; Slim
Malek		Boy	A king; Brown bull; Small
Izaiah-Name:-Complete-Guide-In-2025		Boy	Yahweh is salvation
Daniels		Boy	God is my judge; Son of Daniel
Martim		Boy	A warlike individual
Majid		Boy	Magnificent; Glorious
Daniil		Girl	God is a judge who rules
Micheal		Girl	Who is like God?
Burhan		Boy	Proof; An epithet of Prophet Muhammad
Mieszko		Boy	Glory of the sword
Dovydas		Boy	A form of David; name of a King
Dovid		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Arno		Boy	Eagle ruler; Eagle power; Strong as eagle
Lysander		Boy	A man who releases others
Eldon-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-What-You-Need-To-Know		Boy	Ella's hill; Sacred hill
Jaheim		Boy	Raised Up; Dignified
Lyndon-Baby-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-History-&-Trends		Boy	From the linden tree hill
Carrick		Boy	Name of a town; Rocky place; Hound of the rock
Imad		Boy	Pillar; Support; Mainstay
Brook		Unisex	A small stream; Blessed; A person who lived near a brook; Swamp; Marsh
Ilya-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-The-Complete-Guide		Unisex	My God is Yahweh; Great; Glorious
Ihsan		Unisex	Charity; Kindness
Ihsaan		Unisex	Charity; Kindness
Elian		Unisex	My God is Yahweh; My God is an oath; God is my strength; Light
Yoel		Boy	Yahweh is God
Armani		Girl	Son of Ermanno; Army man; Soldier; From the palace; Hope; Wish
Neev		Boy	Groundwork; Elementary; Bright
Eliott		Boy	Yahweh is my God
Eliyas-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Popularity,-Nicknames-And-More		Boy	Yahweh is my God
Husayn		Boy	Handsome; Good; Beautiful
Nishaan		Boy	The big emperor who commands the other rulers as well
Yad		Boy	One who remembers God
Augustin		Boy	Magnificient; Respected; Venerable; Exalted
Noam-Name-Meaning:-Origins,-Variations-&-Famous-People		Unisex	Pleasantness
Noar-Baby-Name:-Guide-To-Meaning,-Trends-&-Pronunciation		Unisex	Narrows; Small river; Light; Radiance
Yaakov		Boy	Supplanter; Holder of the heel; May God protect
Jase		Boy	Healer; The Lord is salvation
Noor-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Unisex	Divine light
Arion		Boy	Boundary; Light of the heavens; Melodious
Abrar		Boy	Virtuous; Wise; Smart; Intelligent
Don-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Dark Brown; Chief; Noble; Ruler of the world
Hayyan		Boy	Lively; Energetic
Walid		Boy	Newborn
Eoghan		Boy	Good; Born from the yew tree; Well-born
Cedric		Boy	An invented name
Avyaan		Boy	Beginning; Perfect; Faultless
Davide		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Paolo		Boy	Humble; Small
Dominick		Boy	Belonging to God
Vasile		Boy	King
Areeb		Boy	Brilliant; Intelligent; Clever
Pavel		Boy	Small; Humble
Vansh		Unisex	Descendant or lineage
Valentine-Name-Meaning:-Ultimate-Guide-To-Origin-And-Variations		Unisex	Strong; Vigorous; Healthy
Chad-Name-Meaning:-Ultimate-Guide-To-Origin,-History-&-Variants		Boy	Battle; Warlike; Lake; Large expanse of water
Adonis-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-&-History		Unisex	Lord; Master; Beautiful young man
Petar		Boy	Rock
Awais		Boy	A gifted individual; Wolf
Adriano		Boy	From Hadria
Uriel		Boy	God is my light; An archangel
Radu		Boy	Happy; Willing
Kaloyan-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Boy	Handsome John
Jaylan		Boy	To rejoice; Calm; Healer; Jaybird
Ahaan		Boy	Dawn; First ray of light
Tommi		Unisex	Twin
Rudie		Girl	Famous wolf
Frazier		Boy	Nobility; Name of a place in France
Graham-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-2025-Guide		Boy	Gravelly homestead
Faheem		Boy	Intelligent; Scholar
Dillan		Boy	Son of the sea; Tide; Flow
Alaric		Boy	Ruler of all; Noble ruler
Kofi		Boy	Born on a Friday
Kaspar		Boy	Treasurer
Shaheer		Boy	Someone who is well-known and famous
Seyon		Unisex	God is gracious
Kayleb		Boy	Whole; All of; Heart; Dog
Seve		Unisex	Stern
Farley		Boy	Fern clearing
Rosco		Boy	Forest of the roebuck; Deer forest; Doe wood
Andrea		Girl	Strong; Manly
Gage		Unisex	Pledge; Measure
Saifan-Name:-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Complete-Guide		Boy	Sword of Allah; Safe sword
Andrey		Boy	A born warrior; One who is manly and brave
Saim-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-28-Unique-Insights		Girl	One who is fasting
Khalifa-Name-Meaning:-Origins,-History,-And-Popularity-Insights		Boy	Successor; Ruler; Leader; Caliphs who succeeded Prophet Muhammad
Taron-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-And-4-Charming-Nicknames		Boy	Thunder
Kaydon		Boy	Companion
Kayaan-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide-In-2025		Boy	Poet; King
Kishan		Boy	Black; Dark
Ferdinand		Boy	Peace; Journey; Boldness; Daring

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