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
Annas		Girl	Yahweh is gracious
Anson		Boy	Son of Agnes
Antek-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Complete-Guide		Boy	Flower
Araf		Unisex	Borderland between Heaven and Hell; Slow
Aram-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Calm; Fortress; Elevated place; Glittering; Lustrous; Splendid
Archibold		Boy	Truly Brave; A variant of the name Archibald
Ardi-Name-Origin,-Meaning,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Heron; Descent; Land; Earth; Soil
Arius		Boy	Warlike; Martial; Devoted to Ares; Of Ares
Ariyaan:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-Popularity-&-Variations		Boy	Noble
Ariz		Boy	Lucky; Successful; Oak; Rain-bearing cloud
Arkan		Unisex	Pillars; Rope; Tether
Arlind		Unisex	Golden birth; Born from gold
Arshad		Boy	Rightly guided; More mature; More sensible
Arshdeep		Boy	Lamp of the sky; Light of the universe
Arshia		Girl	A throne; Worthy of a throne; Abode of Allah
Arturs		Boy	Latvian form of Artur, Strong as a bear
Artyom		Boy	Safe; Butcher
Arvi		Boy	Eagle tree
Asha-Name-Meaning:-Guide-To-Origin,-Variations-&-Popularity		Girl	Desire; Hope; Wish; Alive; Exist
Ashaan-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Popularity,-And-Key-Insights		Boy	Stone; Cloud
Ashvik		Boy	Blessed; Victorious; Bearing the strength of a horse
Asif		Boy	Collector; Gatherer; Harvest; Forgiving
Astin-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-History-&-More		Boy	God's helmet; Divine cauldron
Athanasios		Boy	Wise; Goddess of wisdom and war
Atreyu		Boy	Son of all; Great warrior
Aubyn-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Pronunciation,-Traits-&-More		Boy	White; Bright
Aum		Boy	The sacred syllable; Essence of the cosmic world; The Supreme Absolute
Austyn-Name-Meaning:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-&-Variants		Boy	Magnificent; Exalted; To increase
Avan		Boy	Water; Favor; Protection; Preservation
Avon		Boy	River
Ayo		Unisex	Joy
Ayobami		Girl	One asking for wealth
Ayoob		Boy	Persecuted; Hated
Azzam		Boy	Determined; Resolute; Lion
Balint		Boy	Strong and healthy
Bardia		Boy	High in status; Magnificent
Baylen		Boy	Auburn-haired
Belal		Boy	Wetting; Moistening
Benedek		Boy	Holy; Blessed
Beni		Boy	Blessed; Son; Crimson
Benicio		Boy	Blessed; Benevolent
Benni		Unisex	Blessed; Son of the south; Son of the right hand
Bert-Name-Meaning-And-Origins:-History,-Variations,-And-More		Boy	Bright
Blade		Boy	Knife; Sword
Blakely		Girl	Black; Dark; Woodland clearing
Boluwatife		Girl	God wishes; One who follows the will of God
Bracken		Boy	Descendant of Breacán; Spotted; Speckled
Branden-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Pronunciation:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Hill covered with broom
Braydan		Boy	Salmon; Thief
Brenden		Boy	Prince; King; Outstanding
Brentley		Boy	A hilltop; Steep hill
Bret		Boy	A Breton
Buddie		Boy	Brother
Burt		Boy	Fortified town; Bright; Noble
Caeden		Boy	Strength; Son of Cadán; Battle; Warrior; Companion
Caerwyn		Boy	White fortress
Calix-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity-Guide		Boy	Chalice; Most beautiful
Camille		Girl	Young ceremonial attendant; Priest's helper
Canelo		Unisex	Cinnamon tree
Casen-Name-Meaning:-Key-Insights-On-Origin-&-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	Son of the vigilant one; Observant
Cassidy		Girl	Curly hair; Curly head
Casson		Boy	Hiding place; Calf enclosure; Son of a box maker
Cato-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Wise
Caylan-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Complete-Guide		Unisex	Slender
Caylum-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Expert-Insights		Unisex	Dove
Chinedu		Unisex	God leads
Chisom		Boy	God goes with me
Cihan		Unisex	The world
Ciro		Boy	The sun; Young; Lord; Humiliator of the enemy
Clive		Boy	Cliff
Clovis-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Famous battle; Glorious war
Clyde		Boy	Warm; Friendly; From the River Clyde
Cobain-Name:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Unisex	Fair person; Large
Collin-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-History		Boy	Victory of the people; Cub; Whelp
Colson-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Victory of the people; Swarthy; Son of Col
Conal		Boy	Hound ruler; Wolf ruler
Conlan		Boy	Hero; Valor; Strong wolf
Corby		Boy	A young, newly born crow; Raven
Cornelius		Boy	Horn
Cosimo		Boy	Order; Decency; Universe
Cove		Boy	Bay; Inlet; Shelter
Cree		Boy	First people; Name of a Native American tribe
Crispin-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Complete-Guide		Boy	Curly-haired
Daithi		Boy	Swiftness; Nimbleness
Danila		Boy	God is a judge
Danyaal-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Expert-Guide		Boy	God is my judge
Darien-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-What-You-Need-To-Know		Girl	Oaktree; One from Airelle in France; Possessing goodness
Dariusz		Boy	Possessing goodness
Darnell-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Hidden nook; A type of grass
Dastan-Meaning,-Origin-And-Pronunciation:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Story; Legend; Epic poem
Davian		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Davie		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Davit		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Dayan		Unisex	Mister; Ruler; Chief
Dayne-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Nicknames:-A-Complete-Guide		Boy	One who is from Denmark; Valley; Chief of ten
Deano		Boy	Valley; Dean; Chief of ten
Deep-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Your-Essential-Guide		Boy	Light; Lamp
Delaney		Boy	Black; Challenge; Alder tree
Delight-Baby-Name-Guide:-Pronunciation,-Popularity-&-Nicknames		Unisex	Delight; Happiness
Derin		Unisex	Deep; Profound

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