Muhammad and Amelia prove most popular names in city

MUHAMMAD and Amelia are the most popular baby names in Birmingham, according to the Office for National Statistics.

It revealed that 423 baby boys in Birmingham were named Muhammad in 2017, while 99 girls were called Amelia – making them the most popular baby names in our city. Two other variations on the Arabic name – Mohammed and Mohammad – also made it into the top 10 boys’ names in Birmingham.

Also popular were Adam, Oliver, Noah, Ibrahim and George, which made up the rest of the top names.

For girls, the other most popular names were Olivia, Ava, Maryam, Aisha, Sophia, Sienna and Isla.

Across England and Wales, Olivia and Oliver remain the most popular baby names. With 5,204 baby girls being given the first name Olivia in 2017, it remained the most popular for the second year in a row, having knocked Amelia off the top spot last year.

Meanwhile, Oliver has been the most popular first name given to baby boys since 2013, according to figures from the ONS.

Poppy replaced Jessica in the top 10 girls’ names across England and Wales last year, compared with 2016. Thomas fell out of favour for boys’ names, dropping out of the top 10, while Leo shot up the ranks from 13th place to 7th place in 2017.

Nick Stripe, Head of Life Events at the Office for National Statistics, said: “Although Oliver and Olivia remained the most popular baby names in 2017, some fascinating changes took place beneath them.

“Leo entered the boys top 10 for the first time, whilst Hunter rocketed into the top 100, also for the first time, reaching number 78. Sarah, the most popular name for baby girls throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, dropped out of the top 100 for the first time since our records began in 1904.

“Brand new entries into the top 100 for girls include the names Aurora and Hallie.”

Also making it into the top 100 most popular boys’ name this year was Ralph at number 98.