Baby names have changed with the times, but the excitement when a new born child is having people tussle over what its name is going to be remains!

My 1st Years decided we’d step in and help at this delicate time, and bring you up to date with trends in the baby name’s world. We will be explaining some meanings, helping settle those niggling arguments about what's new & cool, and what you could possibly name that adorable baby of yours with the My 1st Years top 10 most popular baby names.

Setting us off starting at the bottom at number 10 is:
Olivia - girls
Quickly becoming more commonly used, it’s a sweet name that sounds lovely for babies and for grown-ups alike! Taken from the world ‘Olive’ it signifies fruitfulness, beauty, dignity, and peace.

Number 9:
Ethan – boys
A biblical name made cool by the character ‘Ethan Hunt’ from Mission Impossible, it means solid, enduring, strong and optimistic. It widely signifies more masculine undertones and is a favourite baby boys name amongst many dads.

Number 8:
Sophia – girls
The name has Greek origins, but is now widely used by many different cultures. It means “wisdom”! There are many variations and different spellings, with some of the more common alternatives being ‘Sofia’ or ‘Sofiya’.

Number 7:
Ruby – girls
The name was popular in the 1870’s but is fast coming back in to fashion as parents look for shorter, snappier names that are easy to understand. A name with English origins, it quite simply means a red gemstone. There are variations across the world, such as ‘Rubina’ in south Asia and Rubianne, used in parts of Europe.

Number 6:
Charlie – boys
Charlie was originally a nickname for people called ‘Charles’ or later those also called ‘Charlotte’, but nowadays is commonly used as a standalone name and is very popular amongst both sexes, mainly
amongst males. Many places and sources of reference describe this name as meaning ‘free man’. It is also famously the name of Tiger Woods’ daughter.

Number 5:
Harry – boys
Often used as a nickname for people named Henry or Harold. It’s also the spoken name of Prince Henry of Wales. Harry Potter seems to be an inspiration amongst some parents who cite the character as a reason for naming their son Harry.

Number 4:
Isabella – girls
It’s regal and classy, and parents are fast adopting it for their daughters. Traditionally it’s been the name of princesses, such as Isabella of Castile who became queen of Spain, Isabella of France who was the third wife of English king Edward II, and the latest being princess Isabella of Denmark born in 2007.

Number 3:
Ava – girls
A return to the short snappy baby names, Ava has become a retro name inspired by Ava Gardner, the famous 50’s actress, but is now used by lots more parents as its popularity grows further.

Number 2:
Jack – boys
A robust, laddish name, it is thought to be the English name for the French ‘Jacques’, which is in turn a variant of the Hebrew ‘Jacob’. A very popular boy’s name on its own, a variant- ‘Jackie’ is equally popular, mostly amongst females.

Number 1:
Poppy – girls
The most popular baby name on My 1st Years, it is taken from a flower. The name of Jamie Oliver’s daughter, it is one of those modern names that constantly crops up amongst the favourites. It’s short, cute, snappy, modern, and a huge hit amongst new parents.