For the last 8 years, “Oliver” continuously remained the top baby boy name voted by parents. However, a familiar name just snatched the crown.
This 2022, the name “Noah” dethroned “Oliver” as the beloved top baby boy name. Its new spot also broke the nearly 10-year record of “Oliver.”
On the other hand, the name Olivia maintained the throne as the most popular name for girls. It has been the top choice for baby girl names for 6 consecutive years.
Experts also recorded changes in the top 10 entries. This time, the name Willow and Henrey claimed high spots and took out Jack from the top 10. This makes it the first time to exclude Jack from the list of baby names since 1996.
Additionally, Brody and Olive have created a significant move into the top 100 this 2022. They rose to ranks numbered 36 and 25, respectively, since 2020.
Noah Dethrones Oliver as Top Baby Name for Boys
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In overall counting, exactly 4,525 baby boys were named “Noah” last year. According to the data provided by Office for National Statistics (ONS), it was the first time the name Noah moved to the top spot.
On the other hand, the name “Olivia” remained at the top spot for girl names for 6 continuous years. It was the name given to exactly 3,649 baby girls. The Office for National Statistics emphasised that the name Olivia has been the most popular girl’s name since 2016.
The Reason Why the Name Noah Becomes Appealing to Parents
Data statistics can prove how the name Noah steadily rose in popularity since it ranked 225th back in 1996—the first year the data on names was published.
The baby boy name Jacob has been in a 15-year ruin in the number one sport for the most popular name for males in the US. However, the record ended back in 2013 when Noah topped the baby name chart in the United States.
The person who founded the parenting podcast Baby Name Envy is SJ Strum. According to her, the name Noah appeals to a lot of parents, especially expecting couples, “for its blend of traditional and pop culture associations.”
“It’s traditionally a symbol of new beginnings,” said SJ Strum. “which after [the coronavirus] pandemic feels so meaningful.”
In addition, she was able to ask some of her listeners why they liked the name while she was doing the podcast. Most listeners said the name Noah has become more appealing because of the 2004 romantic comedy film The Notebook. In the film, Ryan Gosling portrays the male lead named Noah.
Other famous men with the same name as the biblical figure include actor Noah Wyle. He is an American actor who starred in the hit television series the ER.
The Meaning of the Baby Boy Name Noah
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Aside from all the things mentioned above related to the name Noah, it would be better for people to know its other wonderful meaning.
Many people believe that the name Noah came from the Hebrew “Noach,” which means “rest” or “repose.” In addition to that, it is also the name of a prominent biblical figure.
It also comes from the Babylonian word “nukhu,” which also means “rest” or “repose.”
People in the United States traditionally used Noah as a boy’s name. In contrast, Americans are using Noa as the female version of the name Noah.
Noa is also a biblical name derived from one of the Five Daughters of Zelophehad. It could be the primary reason why it is a very popular name in Israel, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
Name Variations
As mentioned above, the baby boy’s name Noah is a biblical name. It is the reason why Noah has an equivalent in multiple languages. Here are some:
- Noach – Hebrew, Dutch
- Noé – French, Portuguese, Spanish
- Noa – Croatian, French
- Noak – Swedish
- Nuh – Arabic/Turkish
- Nojus – Lithuanian
- Nooa – Finnish