The 2023 baby name trends in England and Wales show the powerful influence of pop culture and evolving preferences. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Mohammed became the most popular child The boy’s name, with 4,600 registrations, surpassed Noah for the first time since 2016. Variations such as Mohammed and Mohammed also featured in the top 100, illustrating the name’s popularity despite regional spelling variations. The ONS considers each spelling variation a separate name, with different variations popularized throughout the years.
for the child Girls, Olivia retained her top spot for the second year in a row, followed by Amelia and Isla. Unlike the boys’ names, the top choices for girls remained through 2022. However, new entries such as Lilah, Raya, and Hazel joined the top 100 for girls, while Jax, Enzo, and Bodhi emerged as new favorites for boys.
ONS noted that pop culture influence was a major driver in the name selection. Names inspired by celebrities and artists saw a surge in popularity, choosing monikers such as Billie (Eilish), Lana (Del Rey), Kendrick (Lamar), Miley (Cyrus), and Elton (John). Baby names of the Kardashian-Jenner clan–like Reign and Saint–also made a mark, along with movie icons like Margot (Robbie) and Cillian (Murphy).
With names like Sunday and Wednesday on the rise, the days of the week have become an inspiration for young parents. In contrast, seasonal names such as Autumn (ranked 96th) and Summer (86th) fell in popularity, with Summer falling 38 places compared to 2013.
Royal names, traditionally staples child The name ranking has also declined. Names such as George, Elizabeth, Charles, Archie, Harry, and Charlotte have lost their former prominence, suggesting a shift away from traditional royal influences toward modern cultural icons.