Can You Guess the Most Popular Baby Names of 2016?

Baby names are an endless source of discussion for parents-in waiting. There is so much to consider from how they sound with a surname, to what they rhyme with, and significant Baby name meanings. If you are looking for inspiration here is a prediction of what will be the top Baby Names of 2016.

Boys Names

Based on previous years’ results, and on names registered so far, the most Popular boys’ names for 2016 are predicted to be:

1. Oliver
2. Jack
3. Harry
4. Jacob
5. Charlie
6. Noah
7. Dylan
8. Alfie
9. William
10. Oscar

There are some regional variations such as Jack being the most popular name for boys born in Scotland, and Jacob being the second most popular name in Wales. Jackson just makes the 2015 top 100 list, but is quickly climbing the ladder.

Modern influences can be seen in names like Theon and Tyrion, from Game of Thrones, while older names such as Albert, Teddy, and Eli are enjoying a revival.

Girls Names

As with the boys, the most popular names for girls in 2015 were unchanged from previous years. The most popular girls’ names in 2016 are likely to be:

1. Olivia
2. Amelia
3. Ava
4. Isla
5. Poppy
6. Sophia
7. Mia
8. Charlotte
9. Isabella
10. Ruby

2015 saw the emergence of names like Arya (Game of Thrones), and Elsa (Frozen), and the numbers of these will grow this year. Mirroring boys, the rising trend of older names like Beatrice, Edith, and Elsie will be noticeable in 2016.

Unusual Baby Names

If you don’t want to give your child the same name as their peers here are some more Unusual Baby Names and their meanings.

Angus: Scottish boys’ name meaning “one choice”. From the Gaelic name Aonghus.

Astrid: Danish girls’ name meaning “beautiful goddess”.

Barnabas: Hebrew name meaning “son of comfort”.

Belle: simply means “beautiful” in French. You won’t struggle to find Disney merchandise!

Dashiell: French name meaning “page boy”.

Domino: good for both sexes, the name Domino comes from the Latin “belonging to God”. A more common derivative is Dominic.

Humphrey: an old English boys’ name meaning “peaceful warrior”.

Henrietta: another old English name and the female form of Henry. Means “home ruler”.

Oswald: an Anglo-Saxon name meaning “God rule”.

Ophelia: meaning “helper”, Ophelia is an Ancient Greek girls’ name.

Valentine: best known for the saint celebrated on February 14^th, Valentine means “strength”.

Verity: the girls’ name Verity comes from the Latin word for “truth”.

Another trend in 2016 will be the increase in unusual spellings as parents seek a way to differentiate their child from their peers with similar names. Jakob, Jaxon, Madyson, Kamryn, Emmalee, Mykel, Rubie, and Kayte are current examples. Though the UK lags behind the US and Australia when it comes to modern spelling they are quickly catching up meaning that the list of Popular Baby Names will soon be diluted with several versions of the same name.

Have you had a 2016 Baby? We'd love to hear what you name you chose!