NAME SHAME
Most popular baby names of 2020 revealed, plus the ones set to become extinct (and it’s bad news for Karens)
THE most popular baby names of 2020 have been revealed - and it’s bad news for Karens.
The experts at have unveiled the new top 100 names for boys and girls, using data from thousands of parents registering their choices on the website.
3
The stats revealed there’s a new most popular girls' name for the first time in three years, as Sophia finally knocked Olivia off the top spot.
Olivia has only dropped into second place, followed by Amelia, with Lily and Isla making up the top five.
The top choice stayed the same for boys - Muhammad - followed by Noah, Oliver, Arthur and Leo.
As well as old favourites there are some brand new entries into the top 100 list, with Ellis, Albert, Mlio, Hudson, Jasper, Austin and Ayaan making an appearance for the boys.
3
It remains to be seen whether Zoom, Nintendo or Tik Tok will appear in next year’s list
Sarah Redshaw
Ronnie - the name Mrs Hinch, aka Sophie Hinchliffe, chose for her baby son - also made the list.
And for girls, monikers including Talia, Lyla, Niamh, Delilah, Anaya, Aisha, Madison, Zainab, Mabel, Margot and Eliana all featured for the first time.
While 2020 has seen a wealth of new names grow in popularity, some have fallen out of favour.
One in particular is Karen, possibly owing to a rise in memes using the name, depicting them in an unfavourable light.
Jumanji actress, Karen Gillan, could be one of the last Karens standing as the name faces extinction with parents shunning the once-popular choice.
3
The name Karen saw its popularity peak in the 1960s, according to the , but it was only given to 21 girls in 2018.
TV and current events have also been the inspiration behind some choices, with the name Tiger soaring in popularity, thought to be due to the phenomenon that was Tiger King.
TV shows like I May Destroy You, Normal People and Schitt’s Creek are also thought to be the inspiration behind a slew of names, including Arabella, Connell and Alexis.
And the Black Lives Matter Movement is also thought to have influenced parents, with Rosa, Martin, Malcolm and Ella all surging in popularity.
Top 100 names for girls
1. Sophia
2. Olivia
3. Amelia
4. Lily
5. Isla
6. Ava
7. Mia
8. Aria
9. Freya
10. Isabella
11. Ella
12. Ivy
13. Emily
14. Grace
15. Isabelle
16. Rosie
17. Poppy
18. Evie
19. Charlotte
20. Hannah
21. Sophie
22. Ruby
23. Alice
24. Willow
25. Elsie
26. Florence
27. Emilia
28. Sienna
29. Luna
30. Maya
31. Millie
32. Zara
33. Phoebe
34. Evelyn
35. Molly
36. Ada
37. Mila
38. Emma
39. Ellie
40. Daisy
41. Chloe
42. Eva
43. Maisie
44. Harper
45. Layla
46. Matilda
47. Sarah
48. Esme
49. Zoe
50. Holly
51. Jessica
52. Nur
53. Robyn
54. Maryam
55. Scarlett
56. Erin
57. Arabella
58. Thea
59. Fatima
60. Lucy
61. Anna
62. Lyla
63. Bella
64. Violet
65. Aurora
66. Ayla
67. Lottie
68. Hallie
69. Eleanor
70. Jasmine
71. Eliza
72. Bonnie
73. Maria
74. Darcie
75. Lola
76. Imogen
77. Amber
78. Clara
79. Abigail
80. Georgia
81. Orla
82. Nora
83. Eliana
84. Rose
85. Harriet
86. Amelie
87. Eden
88. Iris
89. Penelope
90. Gracie
91. Nancy
92. Margot
93. Aisha
94. Anaya
95. Zainab
96. Madison
97. Mabel
98. Talia
99. Delilah
100. Niamh
Sarah Redshaw, UK Managing Editor forsaid: "A global pandemic has had us looking for ways to find optimism, reflected in a rise in positive and heroic names.
"TV really showed its impact when the name Connell made an appearance for the first time after the Normal People hero, played by Paul Mescal, dominated TV chat, along with his chain.
"And with staying in forcibly becoming the new going out we’ve all been turning to social channels to keep us feeling part of a community, reflected in the increasing influence that Insta stars are having on us.
"With tech acting as a lifeline for work, staying in touch with our loved ones and keeping us entertained it remains to be seen whether Zoom, Nintendo or Tik Tok will appear in next year’s list!"
Top 100 names for boys
1. Muhammad
2. Noah
3. Oliver
4. Arthur
5. Leo
6. Freddie
7. George
8. Theo
9. Charlie
10. Jack
11. Harry
12. Oscar
13. Ethan
14. Archie
15. Finley
16. Alfie
17. Joshua
18. Jacob
19. Thomas
20. Isaac
21. Lucas
22. Henry
23. Adam
24. James
25. Louis
26. Aiden
27. Teddy
28. Tommy
29. Luca
30. Max
31. Theodore
32. Liam
33. Elijah
34. Alexander
35. Daniel
36. Reuben
37. Jayden
38. Arlo
39. Jaxon
40. William
41. Mason
42. Logan
43. Ryan
44. Rory
45. Elliot
46. Nathan
47. Dylan
48. Roman
49. Harrison
50. Yusuf
51. Kian
52. David
53. Ezra
54. Michael
55. Joseph
56. Sebastian
57. Ayaan
58. Caleb
59. Albie
60. Toby
61. Benjamin
62. Ali
63. Samuel
64. Grayson
65. Jude
66. Zachary
67. Finn
68. Ollie
69. Hunter
70. Riley
71. Myles
72. Gabriel
73. Hugo
74. Aaron
75. Reggie
76. Carter
77. Jesse
78. Ronnie
79. Alex
80. Luke
81. Edward
82. Kai
83. Matthew
84. Ibrahim
85. Harvey
86. Frankie
87. Jason
88. Eli
89. Rowan
90. Jenson
91. Austin
92. Jasper
93. Hudson
94. Blake
95. Stanley
96. Milo
97. Bobby
98. Lewis
99. Ellis
100. Albert
Karen has been steadily dropping in popularity over the last few years, from its heyday a few decades ago.
In 2015 there were 23 Karens born in the UK which dropped to 18 the year after, then 16, before enjoying a small resurgence in 2018, with 21 Karens registered, but it was short-lived and the figure plummeted to 14 last year.
Other names which are at risk of going extinct in the UK are Kirsty, Shauna and Jordan.
Top 10 'Most Endangered' Boys and Girls Names:
Top 10 'Endangered' Girls Names:
1. Kirsty
2. Jordan
3. Shauna
4. Shannon
5. Courtney
6. Lauren
7. Gemma
8. Jodie
9. Jade
10. Natasha
Top 10 'Endangered' Boys Names:
1. Mitchell
2. Kieran
3. Ross
4. Brandon
5. Craig
6. Ben
7. Jordan
8. Callum
9. Kyle
10. Scott
Most read in Fabulous
Meanwhile this desperate mum asks for help with her 10-year-old daughter’s ‘trick’ maths homework but gets totally savaged in response.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
And this mum sick of the kids stealing her snacks hides them in bags of frozen veg & her kids still haven’t found them.
Top 20 ‘most endangered’ baby names at risk of becoming extinct in the UK
Topics