Names often come in and out of style, but according to new research, there's 15 that consistently stand the test of time.
Choosing a name for a new baby can be a lot of pressure, with names required to suit a cute toddler to a potentially angsty teen, to a successful, working adult and beyond. In recent years, there's been a resurgence of classic and stereotypically "old fashioned" names becoming favoured once more, while TV show and film characters also have their influence on chosen monikers.
New analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) baby name data has revealed the names that have remained popular over the last 100 years. A total of 15 names have made it into the top 100 most popular names every single decade since the 1920s.
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The list includes a number of traditional British names favoured by the monarchy, like George, Charles, and Elizabeth. 13 boys' names made the list, compared to just two girls' names, suggesting parents are more daring in their choices for baby girls.
339 different girls' names appeared in the top 100 of each decade between the 1920s and 2010s, compared to just 276 boys' names. The data shows girls' names don't stand the test of time with parents in the same way that boys' names do.
For example, Gwendoline, Doris, and Vera were all staples of the 1920s, before being replaced by names such as Robyn, Harriet, and Zoe in later decades.
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The data analysis by leading name label manufacturer, mynametags.com, also revealed a shift in parents' attitudes towards nicknames throughout the generations. Alexander is one of the most consistently popular names, having been in the charts every decade since the 1920s, while Alex didn't become popular in its own right until the 80s.
The same trend can be seen with Anthony, Daniel and Joshua, with their shortened versions – Tony, Danny and Josh – all making appearances as given names later in the records. This preference for nicknames as given names suggests parents are becoming more informal with their name choices, especially when it comes to boys' names.
In the 1920s, just three nicknames appeared in the top 100 boys' chart; Harry, Roy, and Fred. This is compared to 15 in the 2010s chart, including Teddy, Ollie, and Freddie.
The most popular baby names from 1921 to 2021
- Alexander
- Charles
- Daniel
- David
- Edward
- Elizabeth
- George
- James
- Joseph
- Michael
- Mohammed
- Robert
- Sarah
- Thomas
- William
Now vote for your favourite in our poll below or by clicking here.
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