Heavenly, Phenomenal, Mate and Dream appear on Scotland's 2019 baby name list
The most popular baby names in Scotland in 2019 have been revealed, and Jack and Olivia have taken the top spot.
According to National Records of Scotland (NRS) data, there were a total of 449 boys named Jack last year, crowning the most popular name for boys for the 12th consecutive year.
Meanwhile 394 girls were named Olivia in 2019, crowning it the top name for girls for the fourth year in a row.
James continued its popular run, becoming the only name to have been in the top 10 in every year since 1974, when the baby records began.
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Charlie, Oliver, Harris, Noah and Lewis also held on to places in the top 10, as did Leo, Rory and Alfie.
When it comes to naming baby girls Scottish parents were still opting for traditionally popular, Emily, which held onto second spot for a fourth consecutive year.
2019 also saw a heap of mini Islas and Sophies, with the names stealing third and fourth place respectively, while Ella, Amelia, Ava, Freya and Grace also sneaked into the top 10.
The fastest climbers within the boys’ top 20 were Charlie, Alfie and Max, while Theo and Brodie were new entrants.
Freya and Ellie had risen quickly within the girls’ top 20, while Rosie and Millie were new to the list.
Other big climbers within the 2019 baby name top 50 charts included Arthur, Willow and Daisy, while George, Tommy, Andrew, Gracie and Hallie also saw big spikes.
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The list also provided some insight on the more unusual names some parents were picking.
Babies named Heavenly, Phenomenal, Mate and Dream were among Scotland’s new arrivals last year, proving some parents were looking to stand out from the baby name crowd.
Other, er, unique names included a girl called Poet, another named Excel, and a boy called Legend.
Some parents appeared to take name inspiration from places, with 13 girls called Paisley, four named Paris and one Vienna Reign.
Film and music also seemed to have provided some moniker inspiration, with a boy called James-Dean, two boys named Hendrix, and four Bowies.
Six girls were named Greta, with parents possibly inspired to name their little one after the figurehead of the climate change movement, Greta Thunberg.
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Alan Ferrier, head of demographic statistics at NRS, said: “Jack and Olivia continue to be the most popular baby names in Scotland. However, this year more than 5,000 unique baby names were registered, which suggests parents may be striving for originality and individuality when naming their children.
“Looking outside the top 100 names, it’s interesting to see the impact that popular culture is having on how parents name their children. More boys than ever are now called Ezra, which may be a result of the popularity of singer George Ezra.
“The Peaky Blinders trend has continued outside the top 100 names. The latest statistics show a continued rise in the number of babies named Cillian, following the launch of the hit TV show and star actor Cillian Murphy. The names Polly and Chester have also increased in popularity in this time.”
