Most popular baby names around the world as parents get inspired by religion
Having a baby is always exciting – but choosing what to name the little one can be tough.
A baby recognizes their own name for the first time between four and nine months, and they will likely say their own name by the age of two.
So, essentially, it's important you pick something you won't get tired of hearing.
READ MORE:Mum names baby after favourite food and people think the kid is 'doomed'
By the time your child is four, they may be able to write their name.
Then, by the time they’re six, their friends will regularly be trying to make rude words out of each other’s names, and when they’re 13, they’ll contort them into supposedly cool nicknames.
When they reach adulthood someone could even end up having your child's name inked on their skin, so it's always best to ensure you make the right choice.
To give people a help in hand Letter Solver looked at which baby names are strongest right now around the world.
It examined each country’s new arrivals to see which names have been commonly assigned over the past year.
The study looked at every country’s native language to find reliable local reports about the most popular baby names for boys and girls.
To ensure the results were up to date, it prioritized reports from the past 12 months.
What were the key findings?
- Variations on the name Maria (including Mia) are the most popular in 17 countries – the most for any girls’ name
- Variations on the name Mohammed are the most popular in ten countries – the most for any boys’ name
- The most common names in the U.S. are Olivia and Liam
- The most common names in England , Wales and Scotland are Olivia and Noah
What about Europe?
Names with strong religious links dominate among the most popular in the world right now.
Variations of Maria, Marie and Mia – all derived from the Hebrew Miryam – are the most popular names in 17 countries.
An honourable mention also goes to Sofia or Sofija, top in nine countries, and known as a royal name meaning "wisdom", rather than a religious one.
For a boy, variations on Mohammed are top in ten countries and Noah is top in seven countries.
It’s worth remembering that, in addition to being God’s chosen zookeeper and the ancestor to much of today’s global population, Noah also invented wine.
This perhaps swayed some people's decision making.
Meanwhile in Europe, Noah is the top boys’ name in the most countries, including all of the UK except for Northern Ireland (where James wins).
Luca, Lucia and Luka collectively account for the most popular boy’s name in five countries.
Four of these are in the Balkan region, where it arrived from across the Adriatic in Italy.
The first Luka on record can be traced to 11th-century Croatia where – today – the Lucia version of the name from the Latin "lux", meaning "light", is most popular.
Croatian soccer player Luka Modric may be the most famous Balkan example right now.
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