Baby Names in England and Wales 2009

Under the heading "Jack falls down and loses crown" the UK Office for National Statistics issued a press release on 27 October listing the most popular baby names in England and Wales for 2009.

"The Olivers’ Army are on their way, as Jack has been replaced by Oliver as the most popular boys’ name in England and Wales, after fourteen years at the top.

Olivia was the top girls’ name for the second year in a row, according to figures published today by the ONS on first names given to babies born in 2009.

There were no new entries in the top ten for either boys’ or girls’ names compared with 2008, although there were regional variations in names’ popularity. For example, Oliver was the most popular boys’ name in six English regions, but Jack was still the top in Wales and the North East and North West of England."

While the release comments that Mohammed was at number 16 nationally, newspapers have picked up on name variations: 3,300 boys named Mohammed, 2,162 Muhammad, 1,073 Mohammads and 980 called either Muhammed, Mohamed, Mohamad, Muhamed or Mohammod.

The top ten are:

1. OLIVER    OLIVIA
2. JACK    RUBY
3. HARRY    CHLOE
4. ALFIE    EMILY
5. JOSHUA    SOPHIE
6. THOMAS    JESSICA
7. CHARLIE    GRACE
8. WILLIAM    LILY
9. JAMES    AMELIA
10. DANIEL    EVIE

See the full list and much more at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15282