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
Apolonia		Girl	From Apollo; Strength
Araminta		Girl	Defender; Protector; Yielding to prayer
Aradhya		Boy	Worship
Asaiah		Boy	Yahweh has made; Made by God
Zuhayr		Boy	Little flower; To shine; To be radiant; To give light
Aryav		Boy	Honest; Honorable; Virtuous; Noble; Wise; Knowledgeable
Luqmaan		Boy	Wise
Zoltan-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Ruler; Sultan
Zohaan-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Boy	Gift of God
Arwyn		Boy	White; Fair; Blessed; People's friend
Ziyan		Unisex	Beautification; Decoration
Majed		Boy	Magnificent; Glorious
Major		Boy	Council spear
Maksims		Boy	The greatest
Malakhi		Boy	Angel or messenger of God
Malakye-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Popularity,-Nicknames-&-More		Boy	My messenger; My angel
Zi		Unisex	Purple; Appearance; Presence
Mamadou		Boy	A man worthy of all praise
Arty		Boy	Bear man
Marcu		Boy	God of war; A from of Marcus
Artem		Boy	Safe; A butcher
Marios		Boy	A person full of bitterness and misery
Aspen		Girl	Aspen tree; Shaking or quaking tree
Calin-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Expert-Guide		Boy	Victorious; Guelder rose; Battle rule
Arsalan		Boy	Lion; King of jungle; Lion hunter; Fearless; Brave; Gladiator
Arrow-Baby-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-Complete-Guide		Boy	An arrow
Zackery		Boy	Yahweh remembers
Yonah-Name-Meaning:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-And-History		Unisex	Dove
Yaroslav-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide		Unisex	Fierce; Glorious
Yan		Boy	God is gracious; Beautiful; Gorgeous; Cliffs; Rocks
Mateen		Boy	Sturdy; Firm; Solid
Yakub		Boy	God will protect; Supplanter
Arlee		Unisex	Clearing
Matus		Girl	Gift of God
Aun		Unisex	Helper
Maximiliano		Boy	Greatest; Supreme; Maximum; Eldest
Wisdom		Unisex	Intelligence; Knowledge; Understanding
Winter		Girl	Winter season; Water; Wet
Wilder		Unisex	Wild; Untamed
Mazen		Boy	Rain clouds; Blessed rain drops
Ario		Unisex	Platinum; Noble-born
Warwick		Boy	Dam settlement
Vivan-Baby-Name-Meaning:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-Parents		Unisex	Life; Plaiting; Twisting; Alive; Bright in battle
Virat		Boy	Huge; Grand; Magnificent; Pure; Clean
Mendel		Boy	Comforter; Person; Man
Mikayeel		Boy	Someone who is like the messenger of God
Brynley		Unisex	Burned clearing; Hill; Mound
Vasco		Boy	Crow
Uwais-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-History,-Variations-&-Nicknames		Boy	A small wolf
Minh		Unisex	Bright
Miracle		Unisex	Wonder; Marvel
Brooks		Boy	Stream; One who lived near a brook or stream
Uriah		Boy	God is my light; My light is Yahweh
Mordecai		Boy	Warrior; Follower; Worshiper of Marduk; Servant of Marduk
Tyreese		Boy	Gift of Gods; Smart; Talented; Brave
Broden-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Complete-Guide		Boy	Bridge
Mubashir		Boy	The bringer of good news
Munachimso		Boy	One who always agrees with God
Treyvon-Name-Meaning-In-2025:-Origin,-History,-Popularity		Boy	Three; Hope
Ayat		Girl	Sign of miracle; God's existence and greatness
Aqib		Boy	Successor
Tre-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Unisex	Three
Naman		Unisex	Salutation; Obeisance
Naod		Unisex	He will be crowned; King
Toms		Boy	Latvian version of Tom; Twin
Narayan		Boy	Path of man; Eternal man; God Vishnu
Antoine		Boy	Flower; Praiseworthy; Prosperous
Natanael		Boy	Best gift of God
Nawaf		Boy	One at a high place or a lofty person
Qusai		Boy	Strength, power, leader
Seyed		Boy	The Lord; The master
Sayan		Boy	Binding; A kind-hearted friend; Evening
Othman		Boy	A brave person and the chosen one
Owyn		Unisex	Well-born; Noble
Bassam		Boy	Smiling; Happy
Adi-Name-Meaning:-Origins,-Variations-&-Pronunciation		Boy	Jewel; Ornament; First; Noble wolf; From Hadria
Paris-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Key-Insights		Boy	Lover; Capital city of France
Adiyan		Unisex	Godly; Devotee
Blair		Girl	Field; Plain; Battlefield
Alexei		Boy	Defender of mankind
Bay-Baby-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Expert-Insights		Boy	Sea inlet; Buoy; Bow; Lord; Boy; Reddish-brown
Sajid		Boy	One who bows down to God
Petr		Boy	Rock; Stone
Adrians		Boy	From Adria
Pharrell-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Boy	A man of valor
Adrien		Boy	Man from Hadria
Phineas		Boy	Nubian; Serpent's mouth
Porter		Boy	One who guards the gates
Albus-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-History:-Complete-Guide		Boy	White; Twilight; Bright; Clear; Shining
Bexley-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-2025		Girl	Wood land clearing surrounded by box trees
Prosper		Girl	Fortunate; Successful
Albee		Unisex	Son of the blond one; Son of Alpin
Rorie		Unisex	Red-haired
Akira		Girl	Sun; Bright; Clear
Raine		Boy	Queen; Rain
Raith		Boy	Ringfort
Raman		Unisex	Pleasing and beautiful; Peace; Roman; Delightful
Roger		Boy	Famous spear
Rodney		Boy	Roda's island; Island near the clearing
Akeel		Boy	Wise; Intelligent

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