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
Diana		Girl	Divine; Goddesslike; Sky; Perfect
Harmony-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-And-Popularity		Girl	Unity; Concord
Darius		Boy	Possessing goodness
Matteo-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Essential-Guide		Boy	God's gift
Lila		Girl	Playful; Amusement; Dark beauty; Night
Miley		Girl	Gracious; Soldier
Ffion		Boy	Foxglove
Mary		Girl	Beloved; Exalted; Sea of bitterness; Wished-for child
Marshall-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-And-History		Boy	Horse-keeper; Master of horses; Stable boy; Keeper; Servant; Military chief commander
Harri		Boy	Home ruler
Zak		Boy	Yahweh remembers
Alina-Name-Meaning:-3-Origins,-Key-Variations-And-Popularity		Girl	Noble; White; Bright
Natalie		Girl	Birthday; Birthday of the God; Christmas; Festival of the nativity
Cillian		Boy	Church; Monastery; Little warrior
Leia		Girl	Weary; Heavenly child
Zach		Boy	Remembered by God
Remy		Unisex	Oarsman; Rower; Cure
Szymon		Boy	To hear; To listen
Sami-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-History:-A-Complete-Baby-Name-Guide		Unisex	Elevated; Sublime; Supreme; Exalted; Name of God
Clementine		Girl	Merciful; Gentle; Orange
Norah		Girl	Light; Bright; Honor; Dignity
Verity		Girl	Truth
Milan		Boy	Gracious; Dear; Middle of the plain
Billie		Girl	Strength; Determination; Resolute protector
Damian-Name-Meaning-&-Popularity-In-2025:-Complete-Guide		Girl	Master; To tame; Divine power
Preston		Boy	One who is from the priest's settlement or town
Ezekiel		Boy	God will strengthen
Anayah		Girl	Care; Protection; Diligence; God has answered
Etta		Girl	Home ruler
Scarlet		Girl	Red color; A person who sold or made clothes made of scarlet
Kaleb		Boy	Devotion to God; Faithfulness; Bold; Whole; Heart
Louisa		Girl	Famous warrior
Zayd		Boy	Increase; Growth
Nate		Boy	God has given; He gave
Cian		Boy	Ancient; Enduring one
Jeremiah-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Yahweh will exalt
Brooklyn		Girl	Broken land; Marsh; One who lives near a brook
Osian		Girl	Deer; Stag
Tom		Boy	Twin; Honest; Innocent; Naive
Inayah		Girl	Care; Concern
Amirah		Girl	Princess; Highborn girl; Treetop; Leader
Esmee-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Girl	Esteemed; Loved
Philippa		Boy	Friend of horses; Lover of horses
Fleur-Name-Origin,-Meaning,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Flower
Tomas-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Twin
Nikodem		Boy	Victory of the people
Dennis-Name-Meaning:-Origins,-History,-And-Key-Insights		Boy	Danish; The Dane; Greek God Dionysus
Kingsley		Boy	King's meadow; King's wood
Daria		Girl	To possess; One who keeps things well
Ida		Girl	Hardworking; Industrious person; Battle
Mateo:-A-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity,-And-Variants		Boy	God's gift
Carson		Boy	Son of marsh dwellers; Descendant of Carra
Stella		Unisex	Star; Pillar
Emmeline-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Work
Jaiden		Boy	Thankful one; God will judge
Timothy		Boy	Honoring God
Junior		Boy	Young; Child; Younger
Ayah-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Girl	A sign of miracle; God's existence and greatness; The verses of Quran
Annabella		Girl	Grace; Favor; Beautiful
Effie		Girl	To use words of good omen
Elisa		Girl	My God is an oath; My God is fullness
Aminah-Name-Meaning,-Origin-And-Popularity-Guide		Girl	Honesty; Trustworthy; Truthful
Haris		Boy	Grace; Kindness; Plowman; Cultivator
Troy-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide		Unisex	A foot-soldier; Curly haired
Sapphire		Girl	Blue; Precious gem
Finnley-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-History:-2025-Guide		Girl	Fair hero; White warrior
Solomon		Boy	Peace
Ebony-Name:-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-And-More-In-2025		Girl	Dark beauty; Ebony tree
Tiana		Unisex	Princess; Follower of Christ; Loved; Divine; From Sebaste
Andrei-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Courageous; Enduring; Manly; Masculine
Inaya-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Variations		Girl	Concern; Care
Hugh:-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Variations---Ultimate-Guide		Boy	Mind; Thought; Soul; Spirit
Antonio-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Complete-Guide		Boy	Priceless
Paul-Name-Meaning:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-&-History		Boy	One who is humble and small
Keiran		Boy	Black; Black-haired; Army's edge
Vanessa-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-History-And-Nicknames		Girl	Butterfly
Aya-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-Parents		Girl	Design; Colorful; Miracle; Verse; Sword
Luka-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Everything-You-Need-To-Know		Boy	From Lucania; Light
Ayden-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	Little fire
Franciszek		Boy	Frenchman; Franks; Someone who is free
Iyla		Girl	Moonlight; Terebinth tree; Earth; Speech; Island
Walter-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Army ruler; Power of the army
Erik		Boy	Eternal ruler
Ayda		Girl	From the moon; Returner; To bring back
Nylah		Girl	Achiever; Fury or passion; Hero; Cloud
Bilal		Boy	The Prophet's person; Calling prayer; Winner; Full moon; Water; Victorious
Izabella		Girl	My God is an oath
Evangeline-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide		Girl	Good news
Everly		Girl	Boar meadow; Boar clearing
Romeo		Boy	From Rome; Roman; Bright; Clear
Lochlan		Boy	From the land of lakes; Vikings; Scandinavian
Hussain		Boy	Handsome; Good; Beautiful
Maisy		Girl	Pearl
Ronan		Boy	Little seal; A pledge; An oath
Ayan		Boy	God's gift; Manifest; Clear; Watchful
Sean		Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Simon		Boy	Hearing; Listening; Flat-nosed
Katherine		Girl	Pure; Each of the two
Pixie		Girl	A tiny, green, pointy-eared fairy
Adeline-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-2025-Guide		Girl	Noble; Kind; Nobility

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