A new study from the United Kingdom has revealed the most popular names for newborns in 2021, which were mostly derived from the Bible and Greek mythology. While the general trends in 2019 had shifted towards a more ‘traditional’ naming trend, such as Noah, Jasper, and Ava, the U.K. study revealed that the future of baby naming may very well be rooted in Biblical times.
Here, we’ll explore the origins of some of the most popular names for newborns in 2021 and how they relate to Biblical figures and mythology.
Noah
According to the Bible, God instructed Noah to build an ark. In doing so, Noah was instructed to take into account not only the animals, but also the plants as a part of the construction process. When the floodgates opened, saving only animals and a few humans, the name Noah was derived from.
Noah was the first person to live in accordance to the Bible. He built an ark, he walked with God, and he was not ‘very godly’, as he fathered children with his wife. While God had instructed him to be “generous and kind” to his children, Noah was really quite the opposite. He found favor with God when he built the ark, however, this was soon followed by divine wrath.
Noah is also the namesake of the biblical flood, which occurred in the times of Noah. The ark was a ‘floating’ temple or a ‘mini-me’ of the Tower of Babel, which was built to defy God. During the flood, the world’s population was reduced to approximately 400 people, with only 8 surviving. However, the story of Noah had a happy ending. When the waters receded, God revealed that he had never really intended for all creatures to be wiped out.
In the year 2020, Noah was reported to be the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales. The biblical tale of Noah continues to resonate with parents, as evidenced by the popularity of the name in the U.K. In the U.S., it has also returned as the most popular name for boys born in 2021.
Judah
Judah is another name that resonates both in the U.S. and the U.K., where it was the 6th most popular name for newborns in 2021. The Old Testament refers to Judah as “God’s chosen country” and while some may consider that to be praise, others may consider it rather unflattering. Still, God’s chosen country had rather good news for all concerned. After King David was made to eat the forbidden fruit by his son Solomon, the kingdom was split into two. Judah, in which David and Solomon were born respectively, claimed descent from each of their father’s families. With the exception of the tribe of Benjamin, all the other tribes supported the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1776. Although Independence was not won by war, but rather by diplomacy, the intervention of the Lord was certainly considered in the quest for liberty through superior strategy and organization.
Lebanon
In the year 2021, Lebanon was the most popular country for newborns to be born in. What’s more, it was the most popular country for newborns among both Muslim and Christian parents. The only other country that topped the list was New Zealand. The most popular baby names in Lebanon in 2021 were:
- Salih, the most popular name among Muslim parents;
- Mazen, the most popular name among Christian parents;
- Hayli, the name of the country;
Interestingly, Salih is the Arabic form of Alan. Alan is the English version of the name that was once again, among the most popular names for newborns in 2021. As in many other parts of the world, the most popular names for newborns in the U.S. in 2021 are:
- Bryce,
- Arya,
- Layla,
- Kali,
- Zora,
- Riley,
- Sophia,
Bryce is an interesting name. In the U.S., it is derived from the last name of baseball player and coach Joe Bryce. Joe Bryce played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees. He also coached both Major League and Minor League teams. His teams won five pennants and one World Series title. In 1933, he became the first person to pitch two perfect games. In a 13-year career, he compiled a record of 144–67 (.746).
Babylon
Finally, we come to Babylon. Babylon is the capital city of the country of Iraq. Like many other ancient cities, the city of Babylon was founded on high ground to avoid flooding. In 2021, Babylon was the most popular city for newborns to be born in. The city is most famous for being the first to use coinage as a form of payment. While Babylon was the first city to use coins, it was also the last. According to Herodotus, the people of Babylon “were the first to abolish payment in nomadic shekels;” they made a link between the name ‘Babylon’ and ‘dollar.’”
United Kingdom
Finally, we arrive at the United Kingdom, where the most popular name for newborns was, once again, Noah. However, in the U.K., it was a slightly different story. The most popular newborn name in the U.K. in 2021 was, in fact, quite an unusual name: Alfie. According to the Office for National Statistics, the name Alfie was chosen by 4,400 newborns in the U.K. in 2021. Interestingly, Alfie is not a direct translation of the Biblical figure, Alfeo. In the U.K., like many other parts of the world, the most popular baby names for 2021 have shifted towards a more ‘traditional’ style. The most popular names for 2021 were: