Popular boy names in 2020. Probably, each of us has at least one friend, whose name is Alexander. And all because this name is the most popular in Russia and not only in it. It has Greek roots and translates as “protector.” It is also widely distributed in other Christian, especially Orthodox, countries.

In Muslim countries, there is an analog of Sasha – this is the name of Mohammed, it is the most common in 80% of Muslim countries. In other countries, there are no less interesting male names. The map below shows the most popular names in Europe, parts of Central Asia and the Middle East.

The most popular boy names in 2020

UK

Most popular boy’s name: Oliver

Most popular girl’s name: Olivia

In 2017, these two variations on the Latin-derived term for “Olive Tree” were the most popular babies’ names in England and Wales. Amelia came second, with Isla at number three.

Oliver has been the most popular boys’ name since 2013, this year followed by Harry and George. In London, however, Muhammad was the top boys’ name, while for girls it was Amelia.

As for Scotland, Jack was last year’s top name for baby boys for the tenth year in a row, according to the National Records for Scotland (followed by Oliver), and for girls, it was, again, Olivia.

A short hop over the Irish sea and the leading boy’s name in Northern Ireland is James, followed by Jack and Oliver. The previous year, Muhammad was the highest climbing boy’s name in Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, it’s currently James, Jack and Noah for boys; and Emily, Grace and Olivia for girls, respectively.

The US & Canada

Most popular boy’s name: Liam

Most popular girl’s name: Emma

Currently, the number one most popular female baby name for our friends across the pond is Emma, followed by Olivia and Ava; and for boys Liam, followed by Noah and William, according to Social Security card application data.

Generally, the most popular names in the US have long owed themselves to biblical characters. In the 1900s, the top names were John and Mary; in the 1950s it was James and Mary; and in the 2000s, the names of the decade were Jacob and Emily.

It makes sense, therefore, that according to the Pew Research Centre, more than 70 per cent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. By comparison, a British Social Attitudes survey last year found that more than 50 per cent of adults describe themselves as having no religious affiliation whatsoever.

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Over in Canada, Olivia is once again the moniker of choice for girls, according to their Vital Statistics Agency, while the top boy’s name is Benjamin.

Most popular boy’s name: Gabriel

Most popular girl’s name: Louise

France’s annual book of popular baby names, L’Officiel des prénoms, listed Gabriel (a name with both Hebrew and Christian religious attachments) as the winner in the boys category for 2017, followed by Raphaël and Jules. For girls, Louise (meaning “renowned warrior”) took the top spot, with Emma and Jade coming second and third respectively. All of which are far removed from the curious break from tradition in 1991, which saw the most popular name in France being Kevin.

Spain

Most popular boy’s name: Hugo

Most popular girl’s name: Lucia

This year Spain’s national statistics office announced that Lucia was the most popular girl’s name, which it has been for several years running. It owes its Latin roots to the word “light” and was traditionally given to baby girls born at dawn. “Santa Lucia” is also the salutation of a female martyr from the Middle Ages, which the Caribbean island Saint Lucia is named after. For boys, the most popular Spanish name is currently Hugo, from an old Germanic word that means “bright in mind and spirit”.

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Italy

Most popular boy’s name: Francesco

Most popular girl’s name: Sofia

The top Italian name for boys in Francesco (a latin name shared by everyone from the Renaissance sculptor to the current Pope), followed by Alessandro and Leonardo.

For girls it’s Sofia, derived from the Greek word for “wisdom” and which has been gathering steam in popularity since the 2000s, not just in Italy but in Scandinavia and Central America too, followed by Aurora and Giulia.