Top British baby names for 2010

Need a little inspiration from the British Isles for your bundle of joy? Have a browse through the current top British baby names to find the perfect name for your little one.

The Office for National Statistics compiled a list of the most popular baby names based on records from 708,711 live births in 2008. Results from babies born in 2009 are expected in November.

The charts show that the trend for traditional names in Britain is continuing with the majority of parents opting for seemingly ‘safe’ names such as Jack and Oliver and Olivia and Ruby. It seems that many UK parents are bucking the celebrity trend for weird and wonderful names (Princess Tiaamii anyone?) for their offspring and sticking to solid sounding names that have been around for some time.

Rising popularity

Out of the top 10, names from the past that would never have been considered a few years ago are rising in popularity. Nurseries and maternity units are now full of little Dora’s, Betty’s, Arthur’s and Stanley’s. David Cameron and his wife Samantha have recently proved themselves true followers of old lady chic by naming their newborn daughter Florence. There is a rose tinted appeal to names of our grandparent’s generation. Growing up in the eighties, my own grandmothers name Harriet was a constant source of amusement. Now it is my own daughter’s middle name and number 80 in the list of top 100 girls names.

Current top 20 boys names

1. Jack
2. Oliver
3. Thomas
4. Harry
5. Joshua
6. Alfie
7. Charlie
8. Daniel
9. James
10. William
11. Samuel
12. George
13. Joseph
14. Lewis
15. Ethan
16. Mohammed
17. Dylan
18. Benjamin
19. Alexander
20. Jacob

Current top 20 girls names

1. Olivia
2. Ruby
3. Emily
4. Grace
5. Jessica
6. Chloe
7. Sophie
8. Lily
9. Amelia
10. Evie
11. Mia
12. Charlotte
13. Ella
14. Lucy
15. Isabelle
16. Isabella
17. Ellie
18. Megan
19. Hannah
20. Katie

Up next: The Top British baby names from 1904 >>