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The Conversation
Politics
Jane Pilcher, Associate Professor of Sociology, Nottingham Trent University

How parents take more risks when naming girls than boys

Noah Oliver Amelia Isla Taylor England Wales United States
If there are a few girls named Noah, we're not seeing any boys called Olivia. bernatets photo | shutterstock

The latest top baby names in England and Wales have been published, and as usual, the list of names is divided into those given to girls (at the top are Olivia, Amelia and Isla) and those given to boys (Noah, Oliver and George are the top three here).

Noah has moved up three places since 2020, to replace Oliver as the most popular name for baby boys. In the boy’s top ten, however, there has not been much further movement, with only one new entry (Henry, ranked tenth and up one place compared to 2020, and replacing Jack).

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