By Canadian Press

Oliver is B.C.’s most popular name in 2024, as century of data show names come and go

Dec 31, 2024 | 12:10 PM

VICTORIA — Oliver was the most popular name for babies in British Columbia in 2024, taking over from Noah, but both still have a long way to go to catch up with the most popular name of the past 100 years.

B.C.’s Vital Statistics Agency says there were 216 Olivers born in the past year, topping the list for the first time, followed by Olivia, Liam, Noah, and Theodore.

The top ten for 2024 is rounded out by Charlotte, Lucas, Isla, Amelia and Leo.

But none of those names come close to Robert, which was bestowed on only 14 B.C. babies in 2024, but reigns as the most popular name over the past 100 years, being used 36,065 times.

Close behind is David on 35,364, while the most popular traditional girl’s name since 1925 is Jennifer, used 15,959 times.

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The statistics show how name trends come and go, with not a single Noah registered in B.C. until 1973.

And while Susan and Patricia are among the most popular girls’ names since 1925, no Susans or Patricias were born in B.C. in 2024.

Diversity of names has also increased — although Noah was the only name used more than 200 times in 2024, more than 30 names were used more than 200 times each in 1984, when the most popular name, Michael, was used 813 times.

The Vital Statistics Agency says that as of Dec. 16, 38,103 babies were registered as born in B.C. in 2024.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2024.

The Canadian Press