Olivia was the most popular girls’ name in 2025 and Muhammad topped the boys’ list, the Office for National Statistics reports. The most popular baby names 2025 show stability at the very top while the wider lists reflect slow shifts driven by culture, family tradition and media influences, according to the ONS release.
Most popular baby names 2025 — Top 10 lists for quick scan
Below are the names the ONS lists as the most commonly given in 2025. Olivia and Muhammad held the number one positions for girls and boys respectively.
Girls — top 10 (ONS)
- Olivia
- Amelia
- Isla
- Ava
- Mia
- Ivy
- Ella
- Isabella
- Sophia
- Grace
Boys — top 10 (ONS)
- Muhammad
- Oliver
- Noah
- Arthur
- Leo
- George
- Harry
- Henry
- Jack
- Charlie
What the 2025 data shows about naming trends
The ONS dataset for 2025 underlines a broader pattern: the very top names tend to show persistence year to year, while movement is greater in the lower parts of the top 100. Olivia and Muhammad remaining at number one suggests continued preference among parents for those established names, even as newer or revived names appear further down the lists.
Several themes are visible in the 2025 lists. One is the staying power of short, familiar names — names of two syllables or fewer feature heavily. Another is the mix of traditional English names (Olivia, George, Arthur) alongside names that reflect the UK’s cultural and religious diversity (Muhammad and its variants often appear in top ranks).
Shifts from year to year are generally incremental rather than sudden. Celebrity naming choices and high-profile births can nudge names upward for a time, while names tied to long-running cultural trends may slowly climb or fall over several years. For expecting parents, that means the lists are a snapshot of preference, not a prescriptive ranking of what a child’s name should be.
Why it matters
Expecting parents often consult the ONS lists to check how common a name is before choosing it, or to find inspiration for distinct or classic names. Administrative bodies, nursery providers and product designers use name-frequency data to plan forms, labelling systems and personalised items.
Researchers and social scientists use baby-name trends as a window on changing cultural influences, migration patterns and linguistic preferences. Because names can reflect parental heritage, media exposure and social values, the ONS lists are a small but useful indicator of wider social trends.
By the numbers — quick takeaways
- Olivia: remained the most popular girls’ name in 2025 (ONS).
- Muhammad: the most common boys’ name in 2025, reflecting continued prevalence in communities across the UK.
- Top-10 stability: the very top names show little change year-to-year, while entries further down the list experience more movement.
Short trend analysis
Three data-informed takeaways from the 2025 lists:
- Consistency at the top — names that have held number one in recent years often stay there, indicating entrenched parental preferences.
- Diversity in the top ranks — the lists include both longstanding English favourites and names common in different cultural communities, highlighting the UK’s plural naming landscape.
- Gradual change overall — rather than dramatic swings, the ONS data shows slow repositioning of names over several years, influenced by media, family tradition and broader social trends.
Key takeaways for parents and planners
If you want a widely recognised name, the lists above indicate which choices are most common. If distinctiveness matters, checking the top 100 can help avoid names many local schools or nurseries will see frequently. Public services and businesses can use ONS name-frequency data to design forms and systems that better reflect name diversity.
Source and data
The names and commentary here are based on the Office for National Statistics release of baby-name data for 2025 and reporting by BBC News. For the full ranked tables, technical notes and methodology, see the ONS bulletin and BBC coverage linked below.
Office for National Statistics
BBC News: report on ONS baby names 2025
FAQ
What were the most popular baby names in 2025?
Olivia was the most popular girls’ name and Muhammad the most popular boys’ name, according to the ONS release for 2025.
Which organisation published the 2025 names data?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the official baby-name data for 2025.
How can I view the full ONS list?
Visit the Office for National Statistics website for the complete ranked tables and methodology; BBC News published a summary report of the ONS findings as context.
