Names / Years / 1974

Most popular baby names in 1974

In 1974 the most popular baby names in England and Wales were Sarah for girls and Paul for boys, from the official ONS historical top 100. ONS publishes only the ranking for years before 1996, so there are no counts for 1974.

Number one girl, 1974
Sarah
Now 131st in 2025 (371 girls)
Number one boy, 1974
Paul
Now joint 602nd in 2025 (64 boys)

Of the top 100 girls’ names in 1974, 92 were still given to at least 3 girls in 2025 and 6 are in the 2025 top 100. For boys it is 96 and 16.†

The top 100, 1974

Rank in 1974, then rank and babies in 2025

Girls

  1. 1Sarah131st371
  2. 2Clairejoint 1,362nd23
  3. 3Nicolajoint 4,200th5
  4. 4Emma85th536
  5. 5Lisajoint 661st57
  6. 6Joannejoint 1,719th17
  7. 7Michellejoint 346th124
  8. 8Helenjoint 705th52
  9. 9Samanthajoint 778th47
  10. 10Karenjoint 2,439th11
  11. 11Amandajoint 983rd35
  12. 12Racheljoint 394th106
  13. 13Louisejoint 816th44
  14. 14Juliejoint 1,639th18
  15. 15Clarejoint 5,926th3
  16. 16Rebeccajoint 413th98
  17. 17Sharonjoint 2,137th13
  18. 18Victoria160th312
  19. 19Carolinejoint 1,271st25
  20. 20Susanjoint 2,439th11
  21. 21Alisonjoint 1,719th17
  22. 22Catherinejoint 590th66
  23. 23Elizabeth74th624
  24. 24Deborahjoint 580th68
  25. 25Donnaunder 3
Show 26 to 100
  1. 26Traceyjoint 4,866th4
  2. 27Tracyjoint 5,926th3
  3. 28Angelajoint 1,229th26
  4. 29Janejoint 1,110th30
  5. 30Zoe104th445
  6. 31Kerryunder 3
  7. 32Melaniejoint 863rd41
  8. 33Sallyjoint 1,079th31
  9. 34Jenniferjoint 650th59
  10. 35Dawnjoint 3,332nd7
  11. 36Andreajoint 1,079th31
  12. 37Suzannejoint 3,332nd7
  13. 38Lucy143rd346
  14. 39Joannajoint 514th78
  15. 40Anna142nd347
  16. 41Charlotte25th1,339
  17. 42Paulajoint 1,584th19
  18. 43Katherinejoint 872nd40
  19. 44Maria88th522
  20. 45Mariejoint 778th47
  21. 46Fionajoint 1,362nd23
  22. 47Kellyjoint 2,006th14
  23. 48Nataliejoint 634th61
  24. 49Kathrynjoint 2,787th9
  25. 50Jacquelinejoint 1,892nd15
  26. 51Wendyjoint 1,809th16
  27. 52Sara110th427
  28. 53Hayleyjoint 478th83
  29. 54Laura303rd148
  30. 55Natashajoint 1,362nd23
  31. 56Ruthjoint 542nd73
  32. 57Lorrainejoint 3,332nd7
  33. 58Tinajoint 1,892nd15
  34. 59Rachaeljoint 3,704th6
  35. 60Annejoint 1,110th30
  36. 61Stephaniejoint 719th51
  37. 62Kirstyunder 3
  38. 63Christinejoint 1,639th18
  39. 64Juliajoint 244th190
  40. 65Gillianjoint 4,200th5
  41. 66Cheryljoint 4,200th5
  42. 67Hannah105th439
  43. 68Vanessajoint 719th51
  44. 69Annjoint 2,006th14
  45. 70Jayneunder 3
  46. 71Dianejoint 2,787th9
  47. 72Heatherjoint 792nd46
  48. 73Sandrajoint 2,439th11
  49. 74Teresajoint 1,362nd23
  50. 75Katejoint 1,079th31
  51. 76Lindajoint 1,892nd15
  52. 77Maryjoint 329th131
  53. 78Elainejoint 1,133rd29
  54. 79Georginajoint 371st115
  55. 80Emily44th956
  56. 81Katiejoint 650th59
  57. 82Alexandra231st202
  58. 83Nicholaunder 3
  59. 84Carolunder 3
  60. 85Sophie63rd724
  61. 86Heidi130th376
  62. 87Kimjoint 3,332nd7
  63. 88Tanyajoint 2,277th12
  64. 89Patriciajoint 1,407th22
  65. 90Beverleyjoint 3,704th6
  66. 91Leannejoint 2,006th14
  67. 92Denisejoint 4,866th4
  68. 93Tarajoint 444th90
  69. 94Clairunder 3
  70. 95Soniajoint 1,051st32
  71. 96Debbiejoint 2,277th12
  72. 97Lesleyunder 3
  73. 98Anitajoint 2,277th12
  74. 99Lindseyjoint 5,926th3
  75. 100Debrajoint 4,866th4

Boys

  1. 1Pauljoint 602nd64
  2. 2Markjoint 294th156
  3. 3David73rd712
  4. 4Andrewjoint 334th127
  5. 5Richard431st92
  6. 6Christopherjoint 203rd247
  7. 7James42nd1,211
  8. 8Simonjoint 606th63
  9. 9Michael85th615
  10. 10Matthew153rd353
  11. 11Stephenjoint 716th49
  12. 12Leejoint 1,093rd27
  13. 13John174th296
  14. 14Robert164th310
  15. 15Darrenjoint 1,066th28
  16. 16Daniel62nd804
  17. 17Stevenjoint 976th31
  18. 18Jason187th270
  19. 19Nicholas214th234
  20. 20Jonathanjoint 296th153
  21. 21Ianjoint 585th66
  22. 22Neiljoint 914th34
  23. 23Peterjoint 287th158
  24. 24Stuartjoint 3,255th6
  25. 25Anthonyjoint 239th206
Show 26 to 100
  1. 26Martinjoint 363rd115
  2. 27Kevinjoint 292nd157
  3. 28Craigjoint 1,705th15
  4. 29Philipjoint 549th71
  5. 30Garyjoint 3,255th6
  6. 31Scottjoint 845th38
  7. 32Waynejoint 2,663rd8
  8. 33Timothyjoint 418th96
  9. 34Benjamin61st808
  10. 35Adam26th1,431
  11. 36Alanjoint 539th72
  12. 37Deanjoint 782nd42
  13. 38Adrianjoint 279th161
  14. 39Carljoint 1,797th14
  15. 40Thomas35th1,344
  16. 41William25th1,456
  17. 42Grahamjoint 2,951st7
  18. 43Alexander40th1,271
  19. 44Colinjoint 1,538th17
  20. 45Jamie245th195
  21. 46Garethjoint 3,255th6
  22. 47Justinjoint 735th47
  23. 48Barryjoint 3,683rd5
  24. 49Christianjoint 393rd105
  25. 50Karljoint 1,466th18
  26. 51Brianjoint 573rd68
  27. 52Edward31st1,385
  28. 53Keithjoint 5,136th3
  29. 54Marcjoint 1,613th16
  30. 55Nigeljoint 3,683rd5
  31. 56Seanjoint 615th61
  32. 57Shaunjoint 1,359th20
  33. 58Nathan99th528
  34. 59Josephjoint 59th811
  35. 60Russelljoint 953rd32
  36. 61Mohammed20th1,712
  37. 62Jeremyjoint 556th70
  38. 63Phillipjoint 1,226th23
  39. 64Damianjoint 279th161
  40. 65Shanejoint 1,153rd25
  41. 66Duncanjoint 1,538th17
  42. 67Patrick134th375
  43. 68Julianjoint 314th141
  44. 69Dominic205th246
  45. 70Charles119th437
  46. 71Marcusjoint 267th170
  47. 72Gavinjoint 934th33
  48. 73Tonyjoint 1,466th18
  49. 74Antonyjoint 1,124th26
  50. 75Robin109th485
  51. 76Trevorjoint 2,013th12
  52. 77Glenjoint 3,683rd5
  53. 78Iainunder 3
  54. 79Ryanjoint 135th374
  55. 80Martynunder 3
  56. 81Gregoryjoint 1,406th19
  57. 82Samuel66th768
  58. 83George7th3,082
  59. 84Oliver6th3,154
  60. 85Raymondjoint 627th59
  61. 86Abdul177th292
  62. 87Mathewjoint 2,132nd11
  63. 88Stewartjoint 5,136th3
  64. 89Malcolmjoint 1,307th21
  65. 90Garryjoint 5,136th3
  66. 91Leon101st526
  67. 92Brettunder 3
  68. 93Terryjoint 1,705th15
  69. 94Kennethjoint 1,007th30
  70. 95Luke131st380
  71. 96Rogerjoint 2,439th9
  72. 97Glennjoint 4,274th4
  73. 98Leighunder 3
  74. 99Terencejoint 1,276th22
  75. 100Derekjoint 1,705th15

Names are matched to 2025 by exact spelling. "Under 3" means fewer than 3 babies were given the name in 2025, so ONS did not publish it. In the historical file ONS numbers tied names one after another rather than giving them the same rank. † Counts of names still in use are Baby Data calculations. Source: Office for National Statistics, Top 100 baby names in England and Wales: historical data, 1904 to 2024 edition (released 31 July 2025), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; 2025 figures: Office for National Statistics, Baby names in England and Wales, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Oliver Mackman

Editor, BabyData

Oliver Mackman is the named editor of BabyData and a director of Best Business Loans Ltd (Companies House 16833937), the company that operates the site. He is accountable for its editorial standards, sourcing and corrections, and requires every number to cite the underlying rule and the official UK dataset behind it, with pregnancy tools reviewed against NHS and gov.uk guidance before publication.

Last reviewed: 12 October 2026