England & Wales Baby Names

Baby name trends in England & Wales from 1996 to 2021

How to use: Type names in the box below, then explore the graph to see trends, annual rankings and numbers of babies born. Or see some naming trends.


Loading names

What is this?
The chart shows names chosen by parents in England & Wales each year from 1996 to 2021, based on Office for National Statistics data.
See the Guardian article for more information.
How should I use it?
Type names that interest you in the box on the left-hand side, then watch the graph change. Tap the graph to see year-on-year numbers and rankings.
I know a Gandalf who isn't listed here!
The ONS doesn't record names that are given to only one or two babies in a year (so no Gandalfs).
Can I search for names ending in A?
Yes, you can use regular expressions! Here are some examples:
  • All names beginning with A: search for a.*. The .* part stands for "any character".
  • All names ending in A: search for .*a$. The .* part stands for "any character" and the a$ means "ends with a".
  • All names beginning with Al and ending with x: search for Al.*x$. Again, the .* part stands for "any character" and the x$ means "ends with x".