The most popular baby names for 2022 inspired by…

The most popular baby names for 2022 inspired by Christmas

Christmas is a joyous time of year, and even more so if you're expecting a baby.

So if you're due an extra special Christmas present in December this year and looking to mark the birth of your bundle of joy with a Christmassy name, there are plenty to choose from.

Greeting card company Funky Pigeon has done some analysis of the ONS’s recently released baby name data to reveal the most popular baby names that scream festive spirit.

Topping the list is the name Ivy with 2245 babies being given the name in 2021, ranking 5th out of all girl names in the UK, up from 6th in 2020. Although Ivy isn’t just a Christmas plant it’s featured in the Christmas Carol “The Holly and the Ivy” by Andrew Peterson giving it a real Christmassy feel.

In second place, and quite a way behind number one, is Bella with 730 baby girls being given this name in 2021, ranking 72nd overall down from 63rd in 2020. The name is traditionally the short form of Isabella, which is the Italian form of Isabel. Also from the Italian word for Bella, meaning “beautiful”. Bella (and Belle which is number eight in the list) inspire the image of Christmas bells.

In third place is the Christmas carol’s other subject matter and the “crown” Holly, 568 baby girls were given this name in 2021, ranking 95th out of all girl names in the UK, down from its 2020 position of 81st. Holly has been a key Christmas addition for centuries, in fact prior to Victorian times the term ‘Christmas tree’ actually referred to holly. Holly is also one of the birth flowers of December, making it a fitting name for a December baby.

First on the list for boys is Jack with 2,847 baby boys being called Jack in 2021.

It was also the 13th most popular boys name in the UK in 2021, down from 10th in 2020. Although the name doesn’t appear particularly Christmassy, it is the name of key Christmas characters such as Jack Frost and Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas). Jack means God is gracious.

In second place a key figure in the nativity, Joseph, with 1,307 baby boys carrying the name in 2021. Joseph was of course Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) husband.

In third another nativity staple, Gabriel, 749 little ‘angel’ boys were given the name last year. Gabriel is the name of the angel sent to tell Mary that she was pregnant with the son of God.

According to Google Trends searches for ”unique gender neutral names” have increased by 200% over the past 12 months. Luckily there are some wonderful Christmassy unisex names to choose from.

The first is Marley, a combined total of 577 babies (male and female) were given this name in 2021. The name is Christmassy thanks to the character in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

The second is Robin, sometimes spelt Robyn. This name was given to 572 babies in 2021 and is befitting of a winter baby due to the bird’s appearance being prevalent in the colder months.