Naming a baby is one of the biggest decisions parents will ever make — and if you're in Ontario, chances are you won't be alone in your choice.
If you're pregnant, planning or just curious, the province shares a list of its most common baby names of each year to help you decide whether you want to stick with the masses or opt for something more unusual.
The most recent list was published at the end of 2024 and details the most-chosen names for new babies in 2023. Spoiler alert: the classics are still reigning supreme. But before you get too attached to Noah or Olivia, you might want to consider the downside of picking a chart-topper.
Noah has once again claimed the crown for baby boys in Ontario, followed closely by Liam, Theodore, and Oliver. These names are giving major gentle-boy-next-door vibes, and they're adorable but also everywhere.
If you dream of yelling your son's name on the playground and having five heads turn, congrats, you've found your match.
Rounding out the top 15 are names like Lucas, Jack, Leo, and Henry, all of which feel like they could belong to the cast of a Netflix period drama.
Olivia is still the queen bee on the girls' side, followed by Charlotte, Amelia, and Emma. It's giving "royal nursery" energy — but again, if you're looking for something a little more unique, you might want to scroll down the name list a bit.
Names like Sofia, Ava, Isla, and Aria continue to soar in popularity thanks to their melodic sounds and pop culture influences (yes, Game of Thrones still has a grip on baby name trends). Meanwhile, timeless picks like Evelyn and Chloe are holding strong.
But here's the thing: with popularity comes saturation. Teachers, daycare workers, and even future employers will see these names often.
So, if you're aiming for something that stands out on a resume — or a classroom attendance sheet — you might want to dig a little deeper.
Ontario's most popular boy names
- Noah
- Liam
- Theodore
- Oliver
- Jack
- Lucas
- Benjamin
- William
- Leo
- Henry
- James
- Ethan
- Muhammad
- Adam
- Owen
Ontario's most popular girl names
- Olivia
- Charlotte
- Amelia
- Emma
- Sophia
- Mia
- Sofia
- Ava
- Mila
- Isla
- Evelyn
- Chloe
- Lily
- Maya
- Aria
Canada's top baby names
If you're interested in a bit of wider Canadian context, here's a look at the country's top baby names in 2024:
Girls:
- Olivia
- Amelia
- Ellie
- Emma
- Charlotte
- Ava
- Lily
- Sofia
- Mia
- Chloe
- Noah
- Liam
- Oliver
- Leo
- Jack
- Lucas
- Henry
- Levi
- Nathan
- Theo
We're not saying you have to name your baby something really out there like X Æ A-Xii (we're looking at you Elon Musk), but hey, originality never hurt anyone!
At the end of the day, name your baby whatever makes your heart melt. Just know that they might be sharing their name with many, many of their future friends.
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