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Top Baby Names In UK For 2021

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Top baby name in  uk for 2021

Parents in the UK, choose their baby names based on multiple factors such as personal preference, family tradition, and trends. The list of top UK baby names in 2021 indicates that tradition and famous personalities influenced the most popular names. The list also shows the growing love for names of foreign origin.

For boys, the timeless favorites Oliver (olive tree planter), George (farmer), and Arthur (a bear) remained on top of the list as their traditional allure and versatility continued to attract parents. Moreover, George is also the name of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s eldest son, which probably added to its popularity. Foreign-language names like the Hebrew Noah (to rest), Arabic Muhammad (praised one), and Irish Oscar (deer friend) also made their way up the charts, mixing up with the old favorites.

The trend continued for girl names as well. The classics Olivia (olive tree), Amelia (work), and Isla (island) lead the list as parents showered love on these traditional names. Meanwhile, short and cute names such as Ava (guarantee), Mia (dear), and Ivy (climber plant) also rose in popularity as parent appreciated their simplicity. Look at the list below to see the most popular names in the UK, as recorded by the Office for National Statistics (1).

In This Article

Browse Top Baby Names by Gender


Browse Top Baby Names by Year

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NameGenderMeaning
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Oliver
Baby Boy Sign Boy Olive; Olive tree planter; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
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Olivia
Baby Girl Sign Girl Peace; Olive tree
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George
Baby Boy Sign Boy Farmer; Earth worker
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Amelia-Name-Meaning-&-History:-Popularity-Trends-Guide-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl Hard working; Industrious
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Arthur-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-History-&-2025-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bear king; Bear
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Isla-Baby-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl Island
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Noah:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Rest; Comfort
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Ava
Baby Girl Sign Girl Desire; Life; Bird-like; Voice; Sound
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Mia-Name-Meaning:-Key-Insights-On-Origin-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl Mine; Dear; Darling; Wished-for child; Sea of bitterness; Beloved; Rebelliousness
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Muhammad-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Praiseworthy; Praised one; Praise; Commendable
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Leo-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Variations:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Lion
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Ivy-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Climber plant; Fig
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Lily
Baby Girl Sign Girl Name of a flower; Purity; Innocence
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Oscar-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy God's spear; Friend of deer
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Isabella
Baby Girl Sign Girl God is my oath
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Harry-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Ruler of the household
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Archie
Baby Boy Sign Boy Holy and bold; Genuine and brave; Brave master
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Rosie-Name-Meaning-2025:-Complete-Guide-To-History-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl Rose; Famous type
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Sophia-Baby-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-For-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who possesses great knowledge and wisdom
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Jack
Baby Boy Sign Boy God is gracious; Healthy; Supplanter
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Grace
Baby Girl Sign Girl Goodness; Generosity
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Henry-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origins-And-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Home ruler
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Charlie-Name-Meaning-In-2025:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Free man; Army
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Freya-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity-Guide-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl A noble woman
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Freddie-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Everything-You-Need-To-Know
Baby Boy Sign Boy Peace
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Florence
Baby Girl Sign Girl Flourishing; Prosperous
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Theodore-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-Key-Insights
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex God's gift
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Thomas
Baby Boy Sign Boy Twin
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Emily
Baby Girl Sign Girl To strive; To excel; Hardworking; Rival
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Finley-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-2025-Popularity-Trends
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fair hero; White Warrior
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Ella-Baby-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl Beautiful; Goddess; Other
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Theo-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Variations-&-Popularity-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Gift of God; God; Folk; People
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Poppy
Baby Girl Sign Girl Red flowering plant
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Evie-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Life; Breathe; Hazelnut
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Alfie
Baby Boy Sign Boy Elf counsel
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Jacob:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning,-And-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy May God protect; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
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Elsie
Baby Girl Sign Girl God is my oath; Pledged to God
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Charlotte
Baby Girl Sign Girl Free person; Petite
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William
Baby Boy Sign Boy Will; Protector
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Evelyn-Name-Meaning-&-History:-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Life; Hazelnut; Lake; Beauty
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Isaac-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy He will laugh; He will rejoice; Laughter
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Tommy
Baby Boy Sign Boy Twin
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Sienna-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-Popularity-&-7-FAQs
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Reddish brown clay; From city if Siena
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Joshua
Baby Boy Sign Boy God is salvation
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Sofia
Baby Girl Sign Girl Wisdom
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Daisy
Baby Girl Sign Girl Daisy flower; Day eye
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James-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Variations:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Supplanter
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Lucas-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity-In-2025
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
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Phoebe
Baby Girl Sign Girl Bright; Radiant
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Alexander
Baby Boy Sign Boy Defender of mankind
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Sophie:-Ultimate-Guide-To-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who is wise
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Arlo
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fortified hill; Between two highlands
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Alice
Baby Girl Sign Girl Noble; Kind; Nobility
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Roman
Baby Boy Sign Boy From Rome
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Edward
Baby Boy Sign Boy Rich guard
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Matilda-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity:-Complete-Guide-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl Strength in battle
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Ruby-Name-Meaning:-Guide-To-History,-Popularity,-&-Variations
Baby Girl Sign Girl A precious red jewel; Red gemstone
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Elijah
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yahweh is my God
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Emilia
Baby Girl Sign Girl Rival; Laborious; Eager
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Teddy-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Popularity-&-Variations
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Rich guard; Gift of God
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Mohammed
Baby Boy Sign Boy Praised; Commendable
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Maya
Baby Girl Sign Girl Illusion; Magic; Sea of bitterness; Beloved; Good mother; Dame
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Max-Name-Meaning-in-2025:-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy The greatest
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Millie
Baby Girl Sign Girl Gentle strength; Brave
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Isabelle
Baby Girl Sign Girl My God is an oath; Devoted to God
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Adam-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-Variations-&-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of the Earth; Formed of earth; Red; One from the soil
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Albie
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex From Alba; Bright; Noble
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Eva-Baby-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl To breathe; To live; Mother of life; Full of life
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Luna-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-For-Parents-In-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl Moon
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Ethan
Baby Boy Sign Boy Enduring; Firm; Strong
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Logan
Baby Boy Sign Boy Little hollow
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Jessica:-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl God beholds
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Joseph-Complete-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin,-Variants-&-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy He will add; Praise
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Ada-Baby-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl Noble; First-born girl; Island; Adornment; Ornament;
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Sebastian
Baby Boy Sign Boy From Sebaste; Venerable; Exalted
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Aria
Baby Girl Sign Girl Song; Air; Melody
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Benjamin-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Global-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of the right hand; Son of the south
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Arabella-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-2025-Popularity-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Lovable; Invokable; Yielding to prayer; Beautiful grace
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Harrison
Baby Boy Sign Boy House ruler; Son of Harry
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Maisie
Baby Girl Sign Girl Pearl
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Mason-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Stone worker
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Esme
Baby Boy Sign Boy Esteemed; Love; Supreme
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Rory-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Red king; Joyful
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Eliza-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl My God is an oath; Pledged to God; Joyful
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Reuben
Baby Boy Sign Boy Behold a son
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Penelope-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl Weaver; Duck
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Luca-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Baby-Name-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
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Bonnie-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Beautiful; Good
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Chloe
Baby Girl Sign Girl Fresh blooming; Ripe green shoot; Yellow
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Louie
Baby Boy Sign Boy Famous warrior
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Mila-Name-Meaning:-2025-Guide-To-Origin,-History-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl Gracious; Dear; Soldier; Miracles
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Samuel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of God; God has heard
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Reggie-Name-Meaning,-History,-And-Popularity:-Complete-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Powerful advisor; Wise ruler
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Violet-Baby-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Purple; Purple flower
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Jaxon
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of Jack; God is gracious
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Hallie-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Origins,-History-&-Variations
Baby Girl Sign Girl Dweller at the meadow; Clearing
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Scarlett-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl The color scarlet; Bright red; A person who sold or made clothes made of scarlet
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Daniel-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-2025
Baby Boy Sign Boy God is my judge
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Layla
Baby Girl Sign Girl Night; Dark
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Hugo
Baby Boy Sign Boy Mind; Spirit; Thought
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The list of top UK baby names in 2021 contains a wide range of names that are loved and approved by English parents. While some of these names have maintained their top spot on the list, others are slowly rising the charts as they make their way into the hearts of parents. When considering a name for your child, ensure it is meaningful and has a good sound. Easy pronunciation and spelling make the name even more appealing, as it will be easier for others to remember and for your child to use confidently throughout their life.

Infographic: Trendy Names Inspired By Famous British Figures

Some names are popular because of their meaning, and others because of their interesting sound. But some baby names become popular because they’re connected to famous people. Check out the infographic below to see names common in the UK and linked to well-known British personalities.

Trendy Names Inspired By Famous British Figures(infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Baby names in England and Wales: 2020.
    https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/babynamesenglandandwales/2020
Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood.

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Siddharth Kesiraju
Siddharth KesirajuMA, Certification in Relationship Coaching
Siddharth holds a certification in Relationship Coaching and a masters degree in communication and journalism from the University of Hyderabad. He has around seven years of experience in various fields of writing and editing.

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Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been a content writer since 2021, researching and writing on education, health and wellness, and travel.

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