Benjamin, Olivia top baby names

Royal names on the rise in 2016 in Ontario

Benjamin and Olivia are the top baby names in Ontario for 2016.

The provincial government says Liam slipped to second place after holding the top spot for boys’ names for five years running, while Olivia has been the most popular name for baby girls since 2008.

The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services says Noah, Ethan and Lucas round out the top five boys’ names, while Emma, Charlotte, Ava and Sophia complete the top five girls’ names.

The ministry says it has seen an increase in royal names, such as Elizabeth, Margaret and Winston, since the television series The Crown was launched on Netflix, though none of those names made the top 20.

And it says Lincoln made it to the top 20 for the first time in the history of Ontario baby names, coming in at number 17.

Here’s the Top 20 boys and girls names in Ontario for 2016:

1. Benjamin

Olivia

2. Liam

Emma

3. Noah

Charlotte

4. Ethan

Ava

5. Lucas

Sophia

6. William

Abigail

7. Jacob

Emily

8. Oliver

Amelia

9. James

Mia

10. Logan

Isabella

11. Nathan

Ella

12. Alexander / Owen

Chloe

13. Jack

Evelyn

14. Mason

Hannah

15. Daniel

Grace

16. Jackson

Aria

17. Lincoln

Avery

18. Adam

Lily

19. Aiden

Isla

20. Gabriel

Sofia

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/EXAMINER FILES Five-month-old Madelyn Black playfully bites a baby pumpkin picked by her mother Kaylee at the Pumpkin Festival at Buckhorn Berry Farm on Oct. 21. Madelyn did not crack the list of Ontario’s Top 20 girls names for babies in 2016.