Top UK Baby Names 2025: Peanut’s Most Popular & Rising Picks for 2026

If you thought baby names were all about the latest micro-trend… not this year. UK parents on Peanut are mixing classic comfort with clean, modern sounds — think Theo, Leo, Arthur, Amelia, Isla — and sprinkling in nickname-first charm (Teddy, Albie, Elsie, Freddie) like it’s second nature.

The ONS lists give us the official picture, but Peanut shows us what’s happening now — the names mums are shortlisting on the school run, saving in Notes, and quietly convincing their partners to love. And in 2025? The vibe is storybook Britain meets soft-modern minimalism.

In this article: 📝

The big story: Storybook Britain meets soft-modern

Two aesthetics are driving the UK charts this year:

• The cosy classics: Royal-adjacent stalwarts and vintage darlings with warm, familiar edges: Arthur, Archie, George, Teddy, Albie, Elsie, Matilda, Florence. These feel like hand-knitted cardigans and names you’ll find in family photo albums.
• Short, soft, and vowel-led: Sleek, breezy picks that sound fresh without trying too hard: Theo, Leo, Luca, Noah, Isla, Ivy. They’re easy to say, look gorgeous on a birth announcement, and age brilliantly.

Layer in a subtle Celtic revival — Seren, Niamh, Rowan — plus cosy-cool nicknames (Izzy, Billie, Bea, Betsy, Seb) and you’ve got a very British blend: traditional roots, modern finish.

👉 Fancy more throwback inspo? Explore our vintage baby names.

Most popular names on Peanut for 2025

If there’s one thing 2025 has made clear, it’s that UK parents are sticking with names that feel good to say — short, friendly, timeless, and warm. The vibe is soft but grounded: think cosy classics for boys, vintage-cool girls, and an uptick in unisex names that blur the lines completely.

Here’s how the year’s favourites are shaping up so far on Peanut:

👧 Most popular girl names in 2025

1. Amelia
2. Lily
3. Isla
4. Olivia
5. Freya
6. Poppy
7. Matilda
8. Elsie
9. Isabella
10. Ava

Old-school charm meets light, lyrical sounds. From Amelia’s classic poise to Matilda’s literary spirit and Elsie’s vintage softness, this list feels like a mix of heritage and heart.

👦 Most popular boy names in 2025

1. Theo
2. Leo
3. Freddie
4. Noah
5. Luca
6. Arthur
7. Archie
8. George
9. Oliver
10. Oscar

Short, punchy, and endlessly likeable. These are names that grow well — from playground to CV — pairing old-fashioned sturdiness (Arthur, George, Oliver) with breezy modern charm (Theo, Leo, Luca).

👶 Most popular unisex names in 2025

1. Rowan
2. Charlie
3. Ezra
4. Oakley
5. Harper
6. Rory
7. Frankie
8. Max
9. Finley
10. Arlo

Gender-neutral names are thriving, with nature-led picks like Rowan and Oakley joining laid-back, nickname-style favourites like Frankie and Rory. It’s proof that parents are leaning into freedom and flow — choosing names that feel open, flexible, and full of personality.

Rising stars since last year

The names moving quickest aren’t always the loudest — but they’re the ones your antenatal group will be quietly copying by spring.

• Celtic and Welsh sparkle: Seren and Niamh climb the ranks — lyrical, heritage-rich, and oh-so wearable.
• Nickname-first energy: Izzy, Billie, Bea, Betsy, Seb say “we’re skipping the formalities.”
• Classic with staying power: Samuel nudges upward — proof that strong, steady choices never really leave.
• Nature-tinted neutrals: Rowan keeps gaining ground, with Ivy and Willow still getting love.

Same leaders, fresh faces at the edges

The very top looks reassuringly familiar — Theo, Leo, Freddie, Noah, Luca — with evergreen staples Oliver and George still holding court. What keeps it interesting is the texture underneath: botanical girls (Ivy, Poppy, Freya), royal-cosy boys (Arthur, Archie, Teddy, Albie), and a steady stream of clean, vowel-heavy names (Isla, Arlo, Olivia, Amelia).

Short and sweet vs. cottagecore cosy (the split we do see)

Because we don’t have gender labels in this dataset, here’s the real divide that shows up in the numbers:

• Short and sweet: Theo, Leo, Luca, Noah, Isla, Arlo, Ivy Minimal letters, maximum charm. These names feel modern without tipping into fad territory.

• Cottagecore cosy: Arthur, Archie, George, Teddy, Albie, Elsie, Matilda, Florence, Poppy Familiar, friendly, and quietly posh — think village fete meets children’s hardback.

Parents are blending the two beautifully — pairing a breezy first name with a storybook middle, or vice versa.

Names to watch for 2026

These are the 2025 newcomers (present in 2025, not in 2024) with the strongest ranks — the ones most likely to push further up next year:

• Lila, Cleo, Felicity, Sylvie — chic, light, and very trendy.
• Sage, Meadow — gentle nature names with calm energy.
• Cruz, Zayd, Rudy, Zak — punchy, global, and cool-short.
• Sidney (unisex revival), Bea, Betsy, Seb, Emmy — nickname-first charm.
• Also worth tracking: Eliana, Hector, Patrick, Nyla, Mali.

And among climbers already on the board, keep an eye on Seren, Niamh, Izzy, Billie, Archer, Elliott, Levi — they’re drifting steadily up the charts.

The UK’s most-loved names on Peanut for 2025 and 2026

Here’s a quick snapshot from the 2025 dataset — a mix of familiar favourites and fast risers you’ll be hearing at nursery pick-up:

1. Theo: Meaning “gift of God” in Greek.
2. Leo: Meaning “lion” in Latin.
3. Freddie: Meaning “peaceful ruler,” short for Frederick in Old German.
4. Noah: Meaning “rest” or “comfort” in Hebrew.
5. Luca: Meaning “bringer of light” in Italian.
6. Arthur: Meaning “bear” or “noble” in Celtic.
7. Archie: Meaning “truly brave” in Old English.
8. George: Meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker” in Greek.
9. Oliver: Meaning “olive tree” in Latin.
10. Oscar: Meaning “divine spear” or “God’s spear” in Old English and Norse.
11. Amelia: Meaning “work” or “industrious” in Latin.
12. Alfie: Meaning “wise counsellor” in Old English.
13. Henry: Meaning “ruler of the home” in German.
14. Lily: Meaning “pure” in English.
15. Isla: Meaning “island” in Scottish.
16. Arlo: Meaning “fortified hill” in Old English.
17. Olivia: Meaning “olive tree” in Latin.
18. Teddy: Meaning “wealthy guardian,” short for Edward or Theodore in English.
19. Freya: Meaning “lady” or “noblewoman” in Old Norse.
20. Poppy: Meaning “from the poppy flower” in English.
21. Albie: Meaning “bright” or “noble” in Old English.
22. Charlie: Meaning “free person” in English.
23. Elijah: Meaning “my God is Yahweh” in Hebrew.
24. Jude: Meaning “praised” in Hebrew.
25. Matilda: Meaning “mighty in battle” in Old German.
26. Elsie: Meaning “pledged to God,” derived from Elizabeth in Hebrew.
27. Harry: Meaning “home ruler,” short for Henry in Old German.
28. Isabella: Meaning “pledged to God” in Hebrew.
29. Rowan: Meaning “little red-haired one” or “rowan tree” in Irish.
30. Ava: Meaning “life” or “bird” in Latin.
31. Evie: Meaning “life” in Hebrew, derived from Eve.
32. Frankie: Meaning “free one,” short for Frances or Franklin in Latin.
33. Rory: Meaning “red king” in Irish.
34. Ivy: Meaning “faithfulness” or “evergreen vine” in English.
35. Evelyn: Meaning “wished-for child” in English.
36. Harper: Meaning “harp player” in English.
37. Max: Meaning “greatest” in Latin.
38. Ezra: Meaning “help” in Hebrew.
39. Grace: Meaning “favour” or “blessing” in Latin.
40. Willow: Meaning “graceful tree” in English.
41. Daisy: Meaning “day’s eye” in English.
42. Florence: Meaning “flourishing” or “prosperous” in Latin.
43. Maeve: Meaning “she who intoxicates” in Irish mythology.
44. Oakley: Meaning “oak clearing” in English.
45. Finley: Meaning “fair-haired hero” in Scottish.
46. Jack: Meaning “God is gracious” in English.
47. Louie: Meaning “famous warrior,” from the French Louis.
48. Rosie: Meaning “rose” or “flower” in English.
49. Mabel: Meaning “lovable” in Latin.
50. Margot: Meaning “pearl” in French.
51. Delilah: Meaning “delicate” in Hebrew.
52. Sienna: Meaning “reddish-orange” or “from Siena, Italy” in Italian.
53. Theodore: Meaning “gift of God” in Greek.
54. Lucas: Meaning “light-giving” in Greek.
55. Roman: Meaning “citizen of Rome” in Latin.
56. Aria: Meaning “air” or “melody” in Italian.
57. Lottie: Meaning “free person,” short for Charlotte in French.
58. Arabella: Meaning “yielding to prayer” in Latin.
59. Maisie: Meaning “pearl,” from the Scottish form of Margaret.
60. Louis: Meaning “renowned warrior” in French.
61. Ronnie: Meaning “ruler with counsel” in Old Norse.
62. Harrison: Meaning “son of Harry” in English.
63. Phoebe: Meaning “bright” or “radiant” in Greek.
64. Aurora: Meaning “dawn” in Latin.
65. Reuben: Meaning “behold, a son” in Hebrew.
66. Riley: Meaning “rye clearing” in Irish and English.
67. Mia: Meaning “mine” or “beloved” in Italian.
68. Sophia: Meaning “wisdom” in Greek.
69. Ada: Meaning “noble” or “adorned” in Germanic.
70. Hudson: Meaning “son of Hugh” in English.
71. Reggie: Meaning “ruler’s advisor,” short for Reginald in Old German.
72. Sofia: Meaning “wisdom” in Greek.
73. Finn: Meaning “fair” or “white” in Irish.
74. Millie: Meaning “gentle strength,” short for Mildred or Millicent in German.
75. Penelope: Meaning “weaver” in Greek.
76. Hallie: Meaning “dweller at the meadow” in English.
77. Isabelle: Meaning “pledged to God” in Hebrew.
78. Alexander: Meaning “defender of men” in Greek.
79. Hugo: Meaning “mind” or “intellect” in German.
80. Maya: Meaning “illusion” in Sanskrit or “water” in Hebrew.
81. Mila: Meaning “gracious” or “dear” in Slavic.
82. Tommy: Meaning “twin,” short for Thomas in Aramaic.
83. Esme: Meaning “beloved” or “esteemed” in French.
84. Winnie: Meaning “gentle friend” in Welsh.
85. Elodie: Meaning “foreign riches” in French.
86. James: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
87. Ruby: Meaning “red gemstone” in Latin.
88. Jacob: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
89. Lyla: Meaning “night” in Arabic.
90. Myles: Meaning “soldier” or “merciful” in Latin.
91. William: Meaning “resolute protector” in Germanic.
92. Eden: Meaning “place of delight” in Hebrew.
93. Isaac: Meaning “he will laugh” in Hebrew.
94. Vinnie: Meaning “conquering” or “victory,” short for Vincent in Latin.
95. Nova: Meaning “new” or “star” in Latin.
96. Ollie: Meaning “olive tree,” short for Oliver in Latin.
97. Eleanor: Meaning “bright, shining one” in Greek.
98. Emilia: Meaning “rival” or “eager” in Latin.
99. Layla: Meaning “night” in Arabic.
100. Otis: Meaning “wealth” or “fortunate” in Greek and Germanic.

The Peanut POV

Peanut is where names move before they make the official lists — because it’s where mums compare shortlists, swap grandparents’ favourites, and find “the one” at 2am. This year’s UK story is clear: comfort with character. Names that feel like home, but still turn heads at the playground.

If you’re weighing up a timeless first with a softer middle, or a nickname-as-official name… you’re very 2025. And we love that for you.

Want to see what's going on in the US for 2025-2026 baby names? We've got you covered