Jack and Olivia are Scotland’s top baby names

National Records of Scotland reveals most popular names in 2019

Jack and Olivia were the most popular first forenames for babies whose births were registered in 2019, National Records of Scotland (NRS) announced today. Jack has been the most popular boys’ name for twelve years running; Olivia was the top girls’ name for a fourth consecutive year.

Oliver remained the second most popular names for boys. James stayed in third place, Charlie climbed seven places to fourth, Harris rose three places to fifth, Noah was up three places at sixth, Lewis was down one place at seventh, Leo dropped three places to eighth, Rory rose one place to ninth and Alfie was up six places at tenth.

Charlie and Alfie were the only entrants to the boys' Top Ten, while Alexander (which fell four places to eleventh) and Logan (down nine places to thirteenth) dropped out of it.  There were two entrants to the boys’ Top Twenty: Theo (which climbed eleven places to sixteenth) and Brodie (up seven places to eighteenth).

Emily was again the second most popular name for girls. Isla and Sophie remained third and fourth respectively, Ella rose one place to fifth, Amelia (down one place) and Ava (up one place) were joint sixth, Grace remained eighth, Freya climbed four places to ninth and Charlotte was up one place at tenth.

Freya and Charlotte were the only entrants to the girls’ Top Ten; Aria (down three places to twelfth) and Jessica (which slipped three places to thirteenth) dropped out of it. There were two entrants to the girls’ Top Twenty: Rosie (which rose seven places to nineteenth) and Millie (up one place to twentieth).

The biggest climbers within the Top Fifties were:

• Arthur (up twenty places to 26th);
• Willow (up ten places to 24th);
• Daisy (up eleven places to 38th).

Particularly fast-rising entrants to the Top Fifties were:

• George (up 13 places to joint 40th);
• Tommy (up 41 places to 48th);
• Andrew (up 13 places to joint 49th);
• Gracie (up 22 places to joint 39th);
• Hallie (up 15 places to 44th);
• Ayla (up 19 places to joint 47th).

The Top Fifty boys’ first names accounted for 38% of all those registered, and the Top Fifty girls’ first names accounted for 36% of registrations. Jack was the first name of just 1.8% of boys and Olivia was the first name of only 1.6% of girls.

NRS registered the births of 23,955 boys and 22,568 girls in the period covered by these figures. Parents chose 3,370 different first forenames for boys and 4,095 different first forenames for girls.  In total, 2,138 boys and 2,668 girls were given first forenames that were unique. Per 100 babies, the numbers of different names and of unique names were well above the levels of 10 and, much more so, 40 years ago. For example, the percentage of boys with unique first forenames was greater this year (8.9%, in the period covered by these figures) than in the whole of 2009 (6.7%) and 1979 (2.3%).

Alan Ferrier, Head of Demographic Statistics at National Records of Scotland said:

“Once again Jack and Olivia are the most popular first names in Scotland, however, there have been some fascinating changes in the top names for 2019.

“The fastest climbers in the boys’ top 50 are Tommy and Arthur. Tommy is up 41 places to 48th and Arthur is up 20 places to 26th. For the girls, the big climbers are Gracie, Ayla and Hallie, who are now all in the top 50.

“Jackson had the biggest fall in popularity for the boys names in the top 100, dropping 20 places to 79th, and for the girls it was Cara, down 31 places to joint 96th.”

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:

“It is always a pleasure to read the top baby names of the year, which give an insight into one of the most cherished moments in every parent’s life.

“While Olivia and Jack have shown their enduring appeal by retaining the top spot yet again, it’s interesting to see newer entries such as Ayla and Hallie in the top 50.”

The publication Babies' First Names 2019 and an Infographic are available on this website.