Top 100 Baby Girl Names 2026 UK: Official List & Meanings

Olivia is still the most popular baby girl name in the UK for the tenth year running, but the names climbing behind her tell a lovelier story: Lily, Mabel, Eliana and Ottilie are all on the rise. If you're expecting a girl in 2026 (or secretly hoping for one), this is the official list every other parent is looking at too.

Below you'll find the top 100 baby girl names for 2026 with the meaning of every single one, the biggest risers and brand-new entries, and a few honest tips for finding the one. Grab a cuppa, put your feet up, and start your shortlist.

And while you're getting comfy, make sure your outfit is too. Our STRETCHSUIT maternity jumpsuit has a built-in bra and grows with your bump from first trimester to fourth, so the only thing you need to think hard about is names.

The top 10 baby girl names in the UK for 2026

1. Olivia - olive tree
2. Lily - the lily flower, a symbol of purity
3. Amelia - hard-working
4. Isla - island
5. Florence - flourishing
6. Freya - noble lady, after the Norse goddess of love
7. Poppy - the poppy flower
8. Elsie - pledged to God
9. Ivy - the evergreen climbing plant, a symbol of faithfulness
10. Isabella - pledged to God

Lily has overtaken Amelia to take second place, and Isabella is back in the top 10.

Where this list comes from

This is the official ranking from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), published on 9 July 2026. It counts every baby girl registered in England and Wales in 2025, which makes it the most up-to-date picture of what UK parents are actually choosing as you plan for a 2026 arrival.

A few numbers worth knowing:

• 284,681 baby girls were born in England and Wales in 2025.
• Between them they were given 35,099 different names.
• 2,386 little girls were named Olivia.
• Each spelling is counted separately, so Sofia (17th) and Sophia (13th) are ranked as two different names.
  

Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own lists, so you won't find Scottish or Northern Irish births in these numbers.

The top 100 baby girl names for 2026, with meanings

Here's the full official list, with what each name means and how many baby girls were given it. Names that share a number of births share a rank.

Names 1 to 50

Halfway there, mama! If your back is aching from all this scrolling, our maternity leggings are made to stretch with your bump and keep you comfy all day. Perfect for long name debates on the sofa.

Names 51 to 100

2026 baby name trends: who's rising and who's falling

Vintage names and soft, flowery picks are winning. Some of the names your great-grandmother might have had are now climbing faster than anything else.

Biggest risers

Mabel is the one to watch. Ten years ago she wasn't even in the top 100; now she's in the top 20. Maeve has an even bigger glow-up, jumping almost 600 places since 2015 to sit at number 26.

Brand-new to the top 100

Seven names broke into the top 100 for the first time this year: Eliana, Gracie, Anaya, Alba, Marnie, Lilah and Frankie. If you love a name that feels fresh but not unusual, start here.

Names that are slipping

• Bonnie dropped 32 places to 48.
• Eden fell 20 places to 80.
• Chloe, Emma and Bella all fell more than 15 places.
• Jessica, Ellie and Amelie have dropped out of the top 100 altogether.

A falling name isn't a bad choice. If you want a classic your daughter won't share with three girls in her class, a name on its way down can be a sweet spot.

Find your style: girl names by vibe

Not sure where to start? Most parents fall for a type of name before they fall for the name itself. Here's the top 100, sorted by feel.

Vintage and old-fashioned girl names Mabel, Elsie, Florence, Ada, Ottilie, Margot, Matilda, Harriet, Nancy, Lottie, Clara, Eloise. Sweet, classic and very 2026.

Flower and nature girl names Lily, Poppy, Daisy, Ivy, Willow, Violet, Rose, Rosie, Hazel, Iris, Olive, Olivia. Soft, gentle and timeless.

Celestial and mythical girl names Luna, Nova, Aurora, Lyra, Athena, Freya, Thea. Perfect if you want a name with a little magic.

Short and sweet girl names Ada, Ava, Eva, Mia, Isla, Thea, Nora, Orla, Lara, Alba. Short names travel well with long surnames.

Irish and Scottish girl names Maeve, Orla, Erin, Isla, Bonnie, Maisie, Alba. Lovely if you want to honour family roots.

Gem and colour girl names Ruby, Scarlett, Violet, Sienna, Margot (pearl), Maisie (pearl). Bright, bold and full of personality.

Popular names that feel unique Ayla, Raya, Myla, Lyra, Marnie, Anaya, Elodie. All in the top 100, but you're unlikely to meet many at baby group.

7 tips for choosing the perfect baby girl name

1. Say it out loud, with the surname. Shout it up the stairs. Whisper it at bedtime. If it flows in both, it's a keeper.
2. Check the initials. Make sure the first, middle and last name don't spell anything you'll regret on a school bag.
3. Think about nicknames. Florence can become Flo or Flossie, Matilda becomes Tilly. Make sure you love where it could end up.
4. Look at the trend, not just the rank. A name at number 60 and rising fast (hello, Eliana) may be far more common by the time she starts school.
5. Choose a meaning that matters to you. Many parents love a name linked to family, faith, a place or a season.
6. Keep a shared shortlist. Pop it in the notes app on both your phones and add to it whenever one strikes.
7. Don't rush. Lots of parents only decide once they meet their baby. It's completely fine to arrive at the hospital with three favourites.

Comfy while you decide

Name-choosing tends to happen in the evenings, feet up, bump out. That's exactly what we designed STRETCHSUIT for.

• The STRETCHSUIT maternity jumpsuit has a built-in bra, so it's one piece, no faff, from scan appointments to the sofa. Every STRETCHSUIT comes with a free pair of socks.
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Baby girl names: your questions answered

What is the most popular baby girl name in the UK for 2026? Olivia. It has been the number one girl's name in England and Wales for ten years in a row, with 2,386 baby girls given the name in the latest figures.

What are the top 5 girl names in the UK? Olivia, Lily, Amelia, Isla and Florence.

Which girl names are becoming more popular? Eliana climbed 54 places, the biggest jump in the top 100. Anaya, Alba, Mabel, Gracie and Ottilie are also rising fast.

What are some unique baby girl names that are still in the top 100? Ayla, Raya, Myla, Lyra, Marnie, Anaya and Elodie are all popular enough to feel familiar, but rare enough to stand out.

What are the most popular vintage girl names? Mabel, Elsie, Florence, Ada, Ottilie and Margot are leading the vintage revival.

When is the next official baby names list released? The ONS publishes a new list each year. The current list, covering babies born in 2025, was released in July 2026. We'll update this post when the next one comes out.

Does this list cover the whole UK? It covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own baby name rankings.

Keep reading

• Top 100 Baby Boy Names 
• What to Wear During Pregnancy: The One Maternity Piece You Need
• When to Stop Lying on Your Back During Pregnancy

Which name made your shortlist? Come and tell us over on Instagram @stretchsuit. We love hearing them.

Much love,

Simone

Source: Office for National Statistics, Baby names in England and Wales: 2025, published 9 July 2026. Name meanings are the most commonly given; many names have more than one origin.