Most popular baby names for 2023 holding their title for 2024

By ANNA SMITH 
Local Journalism Initiative on January 22, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The results are in, and once again, Noah and Olivia take the crown as the most popular baby names for 2024.

These names have held their spots for several years now, said the province, with Olivia having a particularly remarkable record.

“Olivia has held the top spot for 12 consecutive years,” said the government of Alberta in a release. “The next longest reigning name was Ethan, at nine consecutive years between 2001 and 2009, followed by Liam, with seven years from 2010 to 2016. 2024 marks Noah’s sixth year in a row in the top spot for boys.”

“Congratulations to all those who welcomed a child in 2024 and Albertans who took part in the contest to guess the winning names – you continue to make this event my favourite time of year,” said Dale Nally, Minister for Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.

This past year’s list of names showed both a deep love and respect for the provinces’ varied cultural roots, as well as a growing love for names that celebrate the natural world, such as Cedar, and Prairie.

“Some parents seemed to take notes from mother nature and found inspiration from animals in names like Bear, Fox, Jaguar and Sora, while others looked to the night sky, choosing names such as Celestial, Cassiopeia, Andromeda and Orion,” said Alberta’s government.

The top ten most popular names for boys in 2024 are Noah, Oliver, Liam, Theodore, Henry, William, Ethan, Leo, Levi, Jack and Lucas, where for young girls, the names Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia, Sophia, Emma, Ava, Harper, Sophie and Ellie make the cut.

More than 50,000 births were registered in Alberta in 2024. Some names, such as Harper and Ethan, have returned to their spots in the top ten most popular names after a short break, whereas Ellie is a newcomer for popular girl’s names, reaching the charts for the first time.

“As we celebrate the new arrivals in 2024, let’s also celebrate the families who have chosen to build their futures in Alberta,” said Nally. “By prioritizing policies that strengthen families, protect traditional values, and celebrate our shared heritage, we can ensure that Alberta remains the best place to raise a family for generations to come.”

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