Popular Baby Names 2016: BabyCentre Release Top 20 Girls' And Boys' Names Of 2016 So Far

The girls' top spot has changed since last year.
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The most popular baby names in 2016 so far have been released by BabyCentre UK.

The online resource for parents analysed its registration data for the names chosen by 27,230 members who gave birth in 2016 (16,033 who had boys and 11,197 who had girls).

The top girls' name has changed, with Emily knocking Olivia off the top spot to become the most popular name this year.

For boys, it's no surprise Oliver tops the list, having remained number one on BabyCentre's website for the past ten years. 

George and Charlotte have both gained popularity in 2016 and both made the top 20 lists, proving a traditional name never goes amiss. 

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Jamie Grill via Getty Images

Sarah Redshaw, managing editor of BabyCentre.co.uk, told The Huffington Post UK: "Parents are always influenced by popular culture. Social media makes celebrities more accessible than ever, so it’s no wonder that we are increasingly influenced by actors, singers and high profile events as this filters into every aspect of our lives."

See the top 20 girls' and boys' names in the lists below.

Top 20 girls' names in 2016:

1. Emily

2. Ava

3. Amelia

4. Olivia

5. Sophia

6. Evie

7. Lily

8. Chloe

9. Ella

10. Sophie

11. Alice

12. Isabelle

13. Charlotte

14. Grace

15. Isabella

16. Isla

17. Emma

18. Freya

19. Abigail

20. Mia

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Sappington Todd via Getty Images

Top 20 boys' names in 2016:

1. Oliver

2. Muhammad

3. Noah

4. Harry

5. Charlie

6. Jack

7. George

8. Jacob

9. Henry

10. Joshua

11. Ethan

12. James

13. Max

14. Freddie

15. William

16. Oscar

17. Thomas

18. Isaac

19. Finley

20. Alfie

Retro Baby Names Making A Comeback
Aurelia(01 of08)
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Aurelia is the female form of the Roman classic Aurelius and was (unsurprisingly) most popular during the Roman Empire. The beautiful name is pronounced “Aw-REEL-ya” and means “the golden one.” According to Nameberry, Aurelia was one of the fastest-rising baby names in 2013 and in the following year, it broke the U.S. top 1,000 list to sit at number 832. (credit:Blend Images - Mike Kemp via Getty Images)
Emmett(02 of08)
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While the name Emmett is on rise for both genders in 2016, it’s actually starting to gain more popularity among girls. Emma and Emily have always been longtime favourites among parents, Emmett is a rare alternative with a fresh sound. While the name does seem masculine, Nameberry points out that some parents have added an “e” to the end to give the moniker a more feminine look and feel.The name originally peaked in popularity in the 1880s, but has gained a lot of attention in recent years. In 2014, Emmett was number 156 for boys, likely due to the craze of the “Twilight” series which featured a character with the same name. (credit:Thomas Northcut via Getty Images)
Ruby(03 of08)
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The name Ruby is very much a part of pop culture, which is likely why it’s experiencing a boost in popularity. Not only is the name found in music, such as the Rolling Stones’ song “Ruby Tuesday,” but also in film characters, such as Ruby (Renée Zellweger) in “Cold Mountain.” Ruby was highly popular between 1900 and 1936. During that time, the name was consistently in the top 50 list for girls. In 2013, Ruby finally cracked back into the top 100 list and the following year, sat at number 90. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)
Felix(04 of08)
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The name Felix can be dated back to the Bible, but the moniker didn’t hit its peak in popularity until 1910. Although the moniker has fallen off the charts since then, it’s quickly making a comeback thanks to its “x” ending, which gives it its cool factor. Felix, which means “happy and fortunate,” was number 267 for boys in 2014. (credit:Camille Tokerud via Getty Images)
June(05 of08)
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June is one of those names that seem more popular than it really is. In the 1920s, this moniker was incredibly common, but its popularity has died down quite a bit since then. June only cracked the top 1,000 again in 2008 and in 2014, it was number 317 for girls. Today, the moniker is gaining popularity among boys as well, since it is a variation of the Latin name Junius, meaning “born in June.” (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)
August(06 of08)
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Surprisingly, August was one of the top 100 U.S. baby names in the 1800s. Today, it’s gaining popularity among boys and girls because it’s unique without being too over-the-top. In 2014, the moniker sat at number 242 on the top U.S. baby name list for boys. Additionally, many celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Garth Brooks and Mariska Hargitay have kids with the name August, which only adds to the moniker’s recent popularity. (credit:Noah Clayton via Getty Images)
Hazel(07 of08)
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This trendy, old school name is making a comeback thanks to celebrities and pop culture. Back in 2004, Julia Roberts named one of her twins Hazel and in 2014, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski chose the same name for their daughter. The moniker also gained even more traction in 2014 after the YA novel “The Fault in Our Stars” was turned into a movie, since Hazel is the name of the book’s heroine. Hazel was highly popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Although it began to dip in the charts starting in the 1950s and onwards, the rise of nature names has also added to its sudden boost in popularity. (credit:Camille Tokerud via Getty Images)
Ava(08 of08)
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Ava is a prime example of how retro baby names can make a successful comeback. Believe it or not, Ava is an ancient name. The moniker was actually first popularized back in 845 (yes, you read that right!) by St. Ava, a woman who was cured of blindness and became a nun. Since then, the moniker’s popularity has tapered off, only to begin rising again in the late '90s. In the past few years, Ava has managed to remain on the top 10 baby name list for girls. (credit:sot via Getty Images)

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