With 2023 just hours away, many popular New Year’s Eve wrap-ups and traditions are well underway.
One of these provincial favourites is the annual list of most popular baby names born for the year in British Columbia.
And it has been released for 2023!
The list, released by the BC government via the Vital Statistics Agency on Friday, featured the most popular names for all genders.
In a heartwarming continuation, the ever-endearing name Noah has claimed its place at the summit of BC’s favoured baby names for the second consecutive year.
Derived from Hebrew origins, Noah, meaning “to rest or repose,” has entrenched itself not only in contemporary times but also within ancient scriptures. Its historical significance, tied to the Biblical figure renowned for preserving his family and diverse species of animals during a monumental flood, adds an extra layer of depth and resonance to its allure.
Following Noah were:
- Oliver
- Olivia
- Theodore
- Liam
- Jack
- Emma
- Sophia
- Ethan
- Leo
Ethan is a newcomer to this year’s top 10, displacing Lucas from the overall top 10 rankings.
See also: British Columbians can place bets on where the first baby of the new year will be born
In 2022, Noah, Oliver, and Olivia comprised the top three most popular names. However, this year, Oliver surpassed Olivia to claim the second-place position.
Here are the names broken down by baby girls and baby boys:
Girls
- Olivia
- Emma
- Sophia
- Charlotte
- Isla
- Ava
- Amelia
- Chloe
- Hazel
- Mila
Boys
- Noah
- Oliver
- Theodore
- Liam
- Jack
- Leo
- Ethan
- Lucas
- Owen
- Henry
A full list can be viewed on the province’s website along with the total each name was used.
