popular british baby names and their meanings
9
June, 2022
Finding the perfect name for your little one can be so tricky, so here are so popular british baby names and their meanings. Are there any on our list that you would use?
1.Olivia. For five years in a row, Olivia has been at the number one spot in the top 100 baby names lists. The name Olivia is a latin name meaning ‘Olive tree’. Olive trees are representative of peace. The name goes as far back as 13th century England. Its popularity is believed to have stemmed and grown from William Shakesperes play, Twelfth Night.
2.Amelia. Like the name Olivia, Amelia is of Latin origin meaning ‘work’ derived from the German name Amalia. Amelia became a popular name in England, after both George II and George III had daughters named Amelia in the 18th century. It is still well loved to this day and currently ranking second in the top 100 baby names list.
3.Oliver. The name Oliver stems from the latin origin of ‘olive tree’, the same as its female translation ‘Olivia’. Since the year 2000, the name has rapidly grown in popularity and remains popular to this day in the top five names for boys. Oliver is a well known name due to the movie musical Oliver!
4.George. George originated from a Greek name ‘Georgios’, that means ‘farmer’ or ‘worker’. The name spiked in popularity in 2013 after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their first born son. The name remains a solid favourite, ranking at number three for boys in 2022.
5.Jack. The name Jack is a derivative of the name John, which originated in mediaeval england. It is also believed Jack could be celtic in origin, a name meaning ‘healthy’ and ‘strong’. Since the late 20th century, Jack has remained one of the most common British names. After 12 consecutive years in the number one spot, Jack fell in 2014 but still remains in the top 10 in 2022.
6.Charlotte. The name Charlotte dates back to at least the 14th Century, it is the female diminutive of the name, Charles. Charlotte became a popular name amongst Queens,Princesses and Duchesses, just as the male form Charles is popular for the male royals. It is also of French origin meaning ‘free man’. In 2021 it is still popular and ranked as number 6 in the top 100 baby names.
7.James. The name James comes from the hebrew name Jacob, it means ‘supplanter’. James has been a popular name for boys since the start of the twentieth century, it peaked in the 1960s and has started to grow in popularity for girls in recent years. For example, Ryan Renoylds and Blake Lively have a daughter with this name. It is currently still in the top 10 names for boys.
8.Sophia. Sophia is a traditional Greek name meaning ‘wisdom’. It peaked in 17th century Britain and has continued to grow in popularity since the 1990s.Just last year it was in the top five, it is a popular choice due to its sophistication and timelessness.
We would love to hear your thoughts about the names above or any other traditional and popular names from wherever you are in the world! Do you like a name with meaning? Let us know over on our instagram or in the comments below.
Read our 10 top tips for new parents here.
Read how to adjust your child to a new sibling here.
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