Click here to change to original colours Click here to change to black text on a white background
Main Index Main Index Main Index


The Most Popular UK Boys' & Girls' First Names
at the close of the 20th Century and for 2003
Banner

This annual list is compiled by the Office for National Statistics, and shows that as years go by there is little change in the choice of names we give our children.  At the end of the Millennium, for the girls, the top 3, Chloe, Emily and Megan, are the same as for the previous year.

On the boys side the story is much the same. At the top, Jack, Thomas and James hold their positions.

For the top twenty of 2003 click here

So, what did you call yours?

Boys - Millennium
  1. Jack: French short form of JACOB or JAMES, "to hold the heel" or "supplanter" from the Hebrew name "Yaakov"

  2. Thomas: "twin" (Aramaic)

  3. James: Latin/English form of JACOB (see 'JACK' above)

  4. Joshua: "the Lord is my salvation" (Hebrew)

  5. Daniel: "God is my judge" (Hebrew)

  6. Matthew: "gift of the Lord" from the Hebrew name "Mattithyahu"

  7. Samuel: "asked of God" from Hebrew "sha'ul me'el" or perhaps "God hears" or "God listens" (Hebrew)

  8. Joseph: "the Lord added" (Hebrew)

  9. Callum: Scottish form of COLUMBA "dove" (Latin)

  10. William: "will helmet" from the Teutonic elements "wil" (will, desire) and "helm" (helmet)

  11. Ryan
  12. Luke
  13. Lewis
  14. Harry
  15. Jordan
  16. Benjamin
  17. Liam
  18. George
  19. Alexander
  20. Adam
  21. Oliver
  22. Conner
  23. Jake
  24. Cameron
  25. Michael
  26. Nathan
  27. Jacob
  28. Kieran
  29. Mohammed
  30. Ben
  31. Jamie
  32. Charlie
  33. Owen
  34. Bradley
  35. Brandon
  36. Aaron
  37. Kyle
  38. Christopher
  39. Robert
  40. Ethan
  41. David
  42. Alex
  43. Charles
  44. Reece
  45. Edward
  46. Andrew
  47. Dylan
  48. Max
  49. Sam
  50. Louis
 Girls - Millennium
  1. Chloe: "green shoot" (Greek)

  2. Emily: Feminine form of EMIL. "industrious" (Latin) or "work" (Teutonic) or possibly from the Roman family name Aemilius, which means "rival"

  3. Megan: Welsh pet form of MARGARET "pearl" from Greek margaron

  4. Olivia: Feminine form of OLIVER "olive tree" (French)

  5. Sophie: French form of SOPHIA "wisdom" (Greek)

  6. Charlotte: French feminine form of CHARLES "free man" (Teutonic)

  7. Lauren: Pet form of LAURA or a feminine form of LAURENCE "of Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel"

  8. Jessica: "the Lord beholds" or "the Lord's gift" (Hebrew)

  9. Rebecca: "a snare" from Hebrew "ribbqah"

  10. Hannah: "favour" or "grace" (Hebrew)


  11. Bethany
  12. Lucy
  13. Georgia
  14. Amy
  15. Kayie
  16. Ellie
  17. Emma
  18. Courtney
  19. Eleanor
  20. Abigail
  21. Shannon
  22. Molly
  23. Jade
  24. Caitlin
  25. Alice
  26. Ella
  27. Grace
  28. Laura
  29. Rachel
  30. Holly
  31. Sarah
  32. Leah
  33. Elizabeth
  34. Amber
  35. Jasmone
  36. Natasha
  37. Amelia
  38. Phoebe
  39. Victoria
  40. Anna
  41. Nicole
  42. Paige
  43. Chelsea
  44. Georgina
  45. Danielle
  46. Zoe
  47. Imogen
  48. Niamh
  49. Lydia
  50. Alexandra



Check out The Etymology of First Names for more on the subject of the meanings of first names.

Boys - 2003
  1. Jack: French short form of JACOB or JAMES, "to hold the heel" or "supplanter" from the Hebrew name "Yaakov"

  2. Joshua: "the Lord is my salvation" (Hebrew)

  3. Thomas: "twin" (Aramaic)

  4. James: Latin/English form of JACOB (see 'JACK' above)

  5. Daniel: "God is my judge" (Hebrew)

  6. Oliver: Norman French form of a Germanic name, possibly the name Alfihar meaning "elf army".

  7. Benjamin: From the Hebrew name Binyamin which means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand".

  8. Samuel: "asked of God" from Hebrew "sha'ul me'el" or perhaps "God hears" or "God listens" (Hebrew)

  9. William: "will helmet" from the Teutonic elements "wil" (will, desire) and "helm" (helmet)

  10. Joseph: "the Lord added" (Hebrew)

  11. Harry

  12. Matthew

  13. Lewis

  14. Luke

  15. Ethan

  16. George

  17. Adam

  18. Alfie

  19. Callum

  20. Alexander

 Girls - 2003

  1. Emily: Feminine form of EMIL. "industrious" (Latin) or "work" (Teutonic) or possibly from the Roman family name Aemilius, which means "rival"

  2. Ellie: Short form of ELEANOR from the French form of the Provençal name Alienor, which is most likely a Germanic name of unknown meaning, though it is possibly a form of HELEN

  3. Chloe: "green shoot" (Greek)

  4. Jessica: "the Lord beholds" or "the Lord's gift" (Hebrew)

  5. Sophie: French form of SOPHIA "wisdom" (Greek)

  6. Megan: Welsh pet form of MARGARET "pearl" from Greek margaron

  7. Lucy: Feminine form of LUCIUS which is derived from Latin lux "light".

  8. Olivia: Feminine form of OLIVER "olive tree" (French)

  9. Charlotte: French feminine form of CHARLES "free man" (Teutonic)

  10. Hannah: "favour" or "grace" (Hebrew)





  11. Katie

  12. Ella

  13. Grace

  14. Mia

  15. Ami

  16. Holly

  17. Lauren

  18. Emma

  19. Molly

  20. Abigail


Back to The Best

Banner
MAIN INDEX TO THE TOP HOT TOPICS AND CONTROVERSY
Banner
Main Index | To The Top | Hot Topics

All original material ©2000 The Curious? Web Site