Move over, Noah; Oliver is the top baby name in B.C. for 2024

Noah is not number one anymore. Well, at least when it comes to baby names in B.C.

Oliver took over the most popular name in the province in 2024, after more than 200 babies were named Noah each year for five years in a row.

There were 216 new Olivers born in B.C. this year, with 166 Liams, 163 Noahs, 151 Theodores, and 144 Lucas’ also featuring in the Vital Statistics Agency’s preliminary figures.

There were also 172 Olivias, 146 Charlottes, 135 Islas, 134 Amelias, and 121 Emmas, rounding out the top five girls’ names.

Leo, William, Henry, Ethan, and Levi, along with Sophia, Chloe, Ava, Lily, and Evelyn also featured heavily across the 38,103 new babies registered in B.C. as of Dec. 16.

Some previously heavy-hitting names are now almost non-existent. In 1981, 247 children were named Jeffrey, but only seven this year. In 1984, 764 babies were named Jennifer. In 2024? Just five.

Meanwhile, south of the border, Liam and Olivia top the list for brand new boys and girls born in the U.S.

Liam has reigned supreme seven years in a row in the U.S. while Olivia has topped the girls’ list for five, after unseating Emma, previously No. 1 for five years.

With files from The Associated Press.