Elizabeth, Mary, Thomas and George – just some of the most popular baby names chosen by UK parents this year – according to new research from pregnancy and parenting website BabyCentre.
BabyCentre announced the top 100 boy and girl names of 2012, with some unforeseen movements. Amelia tops the girls’ list for the first time in over a decade and former third favourite Harry takes pole position for the boys. The chart lists the names chosen by 8,400 BabyCentre.co.uk members who gave birth in 2012.
Every year, it’s really interesting to look back on the names new parents have chosen for their little ones. TV has clearly had a very strong influence in 2012, as have the Royals
This year’s biggest risers are Mila, Heidi, Darcey and Millie for the girls (up 18, 32, 51 and 26 places respectively) and for the boys Zach, Jenson and Hugo are all brand new entries to the top 100. This year’s biggest fallers include Ellie, Rebecca, Bella, Elijah and Finlay who have all dropped over 25 places.
Furthermore, Royal favourites Henry, Edward, Arthur, Andrew, Zara and Elizabeth all feature in the top 100 and the name Catherine is also moving steadily up the baby name charts (up 21 places since 2011). This year, the baby names chart shows that the Royal family is influencing the monikers of the next generation of Britons. Of the top 10 boy’s names this year, five have a royal connection (Harry, George, William, Charlie and James).
The popularity of the names An(n)a and Christian are two of the more unexpected stars of the 2012 charts – the names of the two protagonists of E. L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey are both up from their positions in 2011.
The top 100 chart also revealed that this year British parents have been turning to their favourite TV programmes for baby name inspiration. The impact of ITV’s period drama Downton Abbey is reflected in this year’s top names with Violet, Isobel, Daisy, Matthew, Thomas and Tom all in the top 100, whilst Cora, Edith and Mary have also all grown in popularity (up 7, 9 and 4 places respectively).
The top 10 baby names of 2012
Girls:
1. Amelia - (+10 places from 2011)
2. Lily - (-1 place from 2011)
3. Emily - (-1 place from 2011)
4. Sophia - non-mover
5. Isabelle - non-mover
6. Sophie - non-mover
7. Olivia - non-mover
8. Jessica - (+4 places from 2011)
9. Chloe - non-mover
10. Mia - (+7 places from 2011)
Boys:
1. Harry - (+2 places from 2011)
2. Jack - non-mover
3. Oliver - (-2 places from 2011)
4. Charlie - non-mover
5. James - non-mover
6. George - (+7 places from 2011)
7. Thomas - (+1 places from 2011)
8. Ethan - (+2 places from 2011)
9. Jacob - non-mover
10. William - (+4 places from 2011)
And it’s not just the Grantham clan that is having an impact – Dana and Brody (two protagonists from Channel 4’s hit show Homeland) have shot up the charts, as has Arya (breakthrough star of popular medieval fantasy show, Game of Thrones).
And TV comedy duo favourites Ant and Dec aren’t just heroes on screens – in 2012, the names Antony (up 4 places from 2011) and Declan (up 2 places) were more fashionable than they have been in years.
Sasha Miller, International Managing Editor for BabyCentre, said: “Every year, it’s really interesting to look back on the names new parents have chosen for their little ones. TV has clearly had a very strong influence in 2012, as have the Royals.
“What’s surprised me the most has been the rise in the names An(n)a and Christian! 50 Shades of Grey was really popular with our members, but I never expected babies to be named after the lead characters,” she said.
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