Noah and Millie are top of the tots in Lanarkshire.
It’s the baby name game that everyone loves playing.
And we have learned the most popular names for newborns across the region in 2022, after the official records for both council areas were published.
Millie (48) moved up from fifth place the previous year, knocking Emily off the top spot, while Noah (70) remained at the top of the charts, although last time round the first place was shared jointly with Leo.
In North Lanarkshire the top three names for boys were Noah, Theo and Luca but in neighbouring South Lanarkshire the most popular boy’s name was Jack, followed by Noah and Luca.
And for girls, the most popular three names in North Lanarkshire were Millie, Sophia and Amelia, while in South Lanarkshire the most popular girls’ names with parents were completely different – Ava, followed by Grace and Charlotte.
And the experts from National Records of Scotland (NRS) believe that popular culture is having an impact on the names chosen for babies. Celebrities – such as Love Island star Luca Bish – could be influencing parents across Lanarkshire. The name was well outside the top ten across the region last year, but the popularity of the name almost doubled from 28 to 54 – pushing it into second place.
Fellow Love Island star Millie Court won the TV show in 2021 and it is believed she could also have helped make the name more popular.
NRS statistician Daniel Burns explained: “Luca has climbed 20 places to land in fifth place for boys, moving into the top 10 for the first time; possibly given a boost by Luca Bish appearing on Love Island.
“The name Maeve has been used in a couple of different TV shows and has grown in popularity over the past few years. Names seen on Love Island, such as Luca, Millie, Arabella and Kai have all increased since appearing on screen.
“Other names apparently influenced by celebrities include Lando, Tilly, Matilda and Dua.”
The popularity of Noah in Lanarkshire was mirrored across Scotland as a whole, as it knocked Jack off the top of the baby name chart according to the figures.
Jack had spent 14 consecutive years at number one but the Biblical boat builder’s moniker has sailed into the top spot with 373 baby boys given the name in 2022.
For girls, the top name across the country is Olivia, for the second year in a row. The name has been a long-term favourite holding the top spot in six of the previous seven years, and 309 newborns from 2022 were given the name.
Daniel said: “NRS is happy to welcome all the new babies of 2022.
“A relative flood of Noahs in the last four years has seen the name leap from eighth to first.
“There are now so many more names in use, as parents aim for something more unusual, that it takes far fewer babies to share a name for it to be high up in the charts.
“Back in the 70s when David was the most popular name, there were upwards of 1700 babies a year with the top boy’s name.
“Since then fertility has declined, meaning there are fewer births, but with more names in use Noah can claim the top spot with 373 baby boys given the name in 2022.”
And Daniel added: “The latest figures also reveal a rise in names relating to nature, with Violet, Daisy, Ivy, Wren, Dahlia, Primrose, Oakley and River all rising. Oakley and River rose for both boys and girls.
NORTH LANARKSHIRE BOYS' NAMES
Noah 41
Theo 30
Luca 30
Charlie 22
Oliver 22
Alfie 22
Ollie 21
James 20
Leo 19
Archie 17
Brodie 17
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE BOYS' NAMES
Jack 34
Noah 29
Luca 24
Harris 24
Leo 23
Lucas 22
Lewis 21
Logan 19
Alfie 19
Rory 18
Alexander 18
NORTH LANARKSHIRE GIRLS' NAMES
Millie 28
Sophia 24
Amelia 23
Olivia 23
Harper 21
Grace 20
Lily 19
Freya 18
Mia 17
Sophie 16
Aria 16
Emily 16
Ella 16
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE GIRLS' NAMES
Ava 26
Grace 23
Charlotte 23
Ella 22
Emily 21
Millie 20
Isla 20
Lily 19
Freya 18
Sophia 17
Sophie 17
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