{"id":11564,"date":"2026-09-25T06:37:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T06:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forbabyboss.com\/baby-names-in-scotland-what-national-records-of-scotlands-2025-figures-show-about-top-names-trends-and-inspiration\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T06:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T06:37:11","slug":"baby-names-in-scotland-what-national-records-of-scotlands-2025-figures-show-about-top-names-trends-and-inspiration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forbabyboss.com\/pt\/baby-names-in-scotland-what-national-records-of-scotlands-2025-figures-show-about-top-names-trends-and-inspiration\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Names in Scotland: What National Records of Scotland’s 2025 Figures Show About Top Names, Trends and Inspiration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choosing a name is one of the most enjoyable jobs of expecting a baby, and official birth-registration figures show what other families are choosing. National Records of Scotland (NRS) publishes a yearly report on the first names given to babies whose births were registered in Scotland. This guide summarises the 2025 edition, which NRS lists on its site, together with the news release that accompanied it. The figures relate to Scotland only, and the report itself notes that only names given to three or more babies appear in its local-area results. For the equivalent statistics for England and Wales, see the ONS release mentioned near the end. This is general information for anyone weighing up names, not a suggestion of what to choose.<\/p>\n

The most popular names in Scotland in 2025<\/h2>\n

According to NRS, Noah was the most popular boys’ name in 2025, given to 318 babies. It returned to the top spot in 2024 and has been in the top three every year since 2020. Freya became the most popular girls’ name for the first time, given to 268 babies and replacing Olivia. Freya had been in the top three since 2022 and in the top ten since 2019.<\/p>\n

The rest of the boys’ top five, as NRS’s table shows, was Luca (302), Rory (301), Muhammad (291) and Oliver (269). For girls, the next four were Isla (253), Olivia (251), Amelia (204) and Grace (200). Grace rose eight places within the girls’ top ten, and Rosie moved up six places to tenth. Luca rose four places to second among boys.<\/p>\n

Trends parents may notice<\/h2>\n

NRS reports several patterns in the 2025 names. Names beginning with A were the most popular for both sexes, with 14.0% of girls and 11.7% of boys given an A name. A has been the leading initial for girls since 2004 and for boys since 2017. Names ending in -ie have risen steadily: 13.4% of baby girls and 8.0% of baby boys had one in 2025, compared with 4.5% and 0.5% respectively in 1974. Five of the boys’ top 20 names ended in -ie: Archie, Freddie, Brodie, Charlie and Alfie. Hyphenated first names were also more common than in 1974, with 1.3% of boys born in 2025 given one, which NRS calls an all-time high.<\/p>\n

Rising names<\/h2>\n

NRS’s biggest climbers in the top 100 give a flavour of what is moving. Among girls, Lilly and Matilda each rose 55 places, to 83rd and 93rd, Darcy rose 52 places to 100th and Margot rose 45 places to 79th. Among boys, Vinnie rose 70 places to join the top 100 at 95th, Cooper rose 42 places to 79th and Ruaridh rose 33 places to 52nd. Freddie climbed 13 places to twelfth in the boys’ list.<\/p>\n

Where names may come from<\/h2>\n

The report includes a section on possible inspirations, phrased as possibilities rather than proven causes. It notes that the name Aurora reached 45th place in 2025, following displays of the northern lights over Scotland in 2024 and 2025, and that a run of botanical names features in the top 100 for girls, including Lily, Rosie, Ivy, Daisy, Willow and Poppy. Screen and music links are also suggested: the report says Margot’s rise may reflect actor Margot Robbie, and that Bridgerton characters’ names Daphne, Eloise and Penelope all climbed. It also links Hallie’s rise to a character in a children’s animation, while noting Roman’s popularity has held since a television drama featured a character of that name.<\/p>\n

Choosing something distinctive<\/h2>\n

For families who want a name few others share, NRS gives the variety figures. In 2025 there were 4,603 different first names given to girls and 3,957 to boys, based on 21,974 girls and 23,082 boys registered. Some 14.0% of baby girls had a name that no other girl received that year, and 11.1% of boys did, which NRS describes as the highest percentage on record for boys. Freya was given to 1.2% of girls and Noah to 1.4% of boys. NRS notes the share of babies given the most popular name has fallen over time, and that the share of girls given the top name in 1983 (Laura, at 3.9%) was more than twice Freya’s share in 2025.<\/p>\n

Names by mother’s age and by area<\/h2>\n

NRS also breaks names down by the mother’s age. Noah and Freya were the top boys’ and girls’ names among mothers under 25, while for mothers aged 40 and over the most popular were Alexander and Sophie. By area, Freya was the most or joint most popular girls’ name in seven council areas and Noah in seven for boys. Aberdeenshire was the only area where both were top.<\/p>\n

Using the data when you pick<\/h2>\n