Choosing a baby name is one of the biggest decisions you make for your newborn, and one that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, so it's important to take time to consider its meaning and how it will work at different stages of their life to ensure you don't regret your choice further down the line.
While some parents take inspiration from everything from royal baby names to their favourite movies, there are new trends and popular names to look out for in 2023. Read on to discover the year's top baby names and their meanings, along with the luckiest boys and girls monikers, and key baby name trends to inspire you for your bundle of joy.
Need more inspiration? Watch the video below to see 20 of the most original celebrity baby names…
Global top baby names of 2023 so far
BabyCenter uses data from their website to share a live look at the names parents are loving right now – showing the most popular baby names worldwide in real time.
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Their list shows that while the top 2022 baby names of Olivia and Liam remain popular, other names including Emma, Amelia and Noah are proving to be firm favourites among prospective parents in 2023. See the top 50 boys' and girls' names of 2023 so far below…
Choosing a baby name is a big decision
Global top 50 baby girls' names of 2023
- Olivia
- Emma
- Amelia
- Sophia
- Ava
- Charlotte
- Isabella
- Mia
- Luna
- Lily
- Gianna
- Aurora
- Harper
- Evelyn
- Aria
- Ellie
- Violet
- Sofia
- Layla
- Mila
- Eliana
- Willow
- Nova
- Hazel
- Ella
- Camila
- Scarlett
- Elena
- Emily
- Maya
- Chloe
- Elizabeth
- Ivy
- Avery
- Grace
- Nora
- Isla
- Penelope
- Abigail
- Naomi
- Eleanor
- Emilia
- Zoey
- Kinsley
- Delilah
- Athena
- Victoria
- Leilani
- Madison
- Paisley
Global top 50 baby boys' names of 2023 so far
- Noah
- Liam
- Oliver
- Elijah
- Mateo
- Lucas
- Leo
- James
- Levi
- Ezra
- Asher
- Ethan
- Luca
- Sebastian
- Hudson
- Aiden
- Theo
- Jack
- Henry
- Kai
- Mason
- Michael
- Jackson
- Maverick
- Muhammad
- Logan
- Benjamin
- Gabriel
- Grayson
- Luke
- Josiah
- Alexander
- Daniel
- Waylon
- Jayden
- Owen
- Julian
- William
- Elias
- Samuel
- Carter
- Theodore
- Caleb
- Thomas
- Wyatt
- David
- Isaiah
- Miles
- Eli
- Ezekiel
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US top baby names of 2023 so far
Data from Nameberry suggests that parents are looking for something a little more unique when naming their bundle of joy, with names including Luxury, Royal and Soren among the most-viewed boys and girls names of 2023 so far.
The data shows that while the names are currently well outside the official top 100 names in the US, their surging popularity suggests it won't be long before they become more common among the new generation of 2023 babies, and there's some celebrity-influenced names making the cut, too.
Aire, the name Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott chose for their baby son after switching his original moniker of Wolf, has skyrocketed to become the most-viewed boys' name. Meanwhile, more classical names such as Aurora, Ophelia and Aurelia – as chosen by Millie Mackintosh for her second daughter - are surging in popularity for girls.
Top 25 US girls' names of 2023 so far
- Luxury
- Maeve
- Aurelia
- Isla
- Eloise
- Alice
- Luna
- Aurora
- Ophelia
- Evangeline
- Violet
- Iris
- Cora
- Daphne
- Eleanor
- Clara
- Freya
- Charlotte
- Phoebe
- Josephine
- Ava
- Matilda
- Lucy
- Amelia
- Clementine
READ: 10 most popular Disney-inspired baby names
Top 25 US boys' names of 2023 so far
- Royal
- Soren
- Theodore
- Silas
- Atticus
- Felix
- Oliver
- Arlo
- Aire
- Hugo
- Cassius
- Oscar
- Caspian
- August
- Otto
- Milo
- Jude
- Cyrus
- Finn
- Sebastian
- Ethan
- Atlas
- Miles
- Ezra
- Kai
Most popular lucky baby names for 2023
If you want to ensure your little one has a life filled with good fortune and prosperity, you may want to consider one of these names that are associated with luck.
Onlinecasinos.co.uk utilised Forebears.io to find out which most desired names are associated with luck, and partnered up with psychic expert Inbaal Honigman to delve into what the names can mean for parents and their newborns.
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They found that Rafael is the most desired baby name associated with luck, with 3,160,411 people bearing this name worldwide. Rafael has biblical connotations, being the name of the angel of healing.
"It's a wonderful name to pick for a life of healthy living, healthy relationships and healthy decision-making. The feminine version is Rafaella," Inbaal says.
Victoria is considered one of the luckiest names
In second place is Victoria, with 2,626,923 people claiming this name worldwide. The name means 'victory' in English, descending from a Goddess of Roman mythology, and various famous figures have embodied this name's meaning, including Queen Victoria and her victorious rule, and Victoria Beckham with her successful career.
"Victoria is not subtle about its blessings," Inbaal explains. "Sharing a name with the Roman Goddess of Victory, Victoria draws luck in the field of winning."
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Meanwhile, Lakshmi is in third place, with 2,570,558 people named after the Hindu goddess. Inbaal states: "Lakshmi is a Goddess of abundance and good fortune. As Goddess of luck, sharing her name will inevitably bring luck. The name can be used both for baby boys and baby girls."
Top 5 lucky girls' names
- Victoria
- Lakshmi
- Beatrice
- Sadia
- Iris
Top 5 lucky boys' names
- Rafael
- Felix
- Said
- Ganesh
- Ayman
Other baby name trends for 2023
Eco-friendly baby names have become increasingly popular in recent years, with a 2020 study showing thay 18% of parents now give their children names inspired by nature – and it looks set to continue into 2023.
RecycleZone analysed the most eco-friendly names on Nameberry to reveal the most common baby name for the eco-conscious, with Kai – as chosen by Wayne and Coleen Rooney for one of their four sons – taking the top spot for boys.
The most popular eco-friendly girls' name, meanwhile, is Rose, followed by Stella, Iris, and Dawn.
Top 5 eco-friendly girls' names
- Rose
- Stella
- Iris
- Dawn
- Aurora
Top 5 eco-friendly boys' names
- Kai
- Jay
- Oliver
- Leo
- Eden
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