Olivia and Noah continue to hold the top spots as the most popular names for newborns in Ontario, as revealed by the province’s recent release of a name list. Notably, Muhammad has made its debut on the list after at least a decade, a shift that reflects the increasing multiculturalism within the English-speaking world, according to a baby names expert.
While Olivia has maintained its top position for the 16th consecutive year and Noah for the sixth year, there has been a decline in the percentage of children receiving these popular names over time. Sophie Kihm, the editor-in-chief of a leading baby name website, emphasized the trend towards unique names and the decreasing popularity of top names like Olivia.
Kihm highlighted the importance of names that resonate across cultures, pointing out that names like Maya and Mia have gained popularity due to their universal appeal. She mentioned that parents from diverse cultural backgrounds often seek names that work well across languages and societies, such as Mia, which has a pronunciation that transcends various languages.
On the boys’ side, the name Liam is favored among Latin American families, while Muhammed, a new addition to the list after a decade, holds significance for many individuals, including Muhammad Chams and Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad, who expressed pride in seeing their name represented. Ahmad underscored the symbolic importance of the name Muhammad in Islam and its association with peace.
In light of recent global events, Ahmad extended a message of peace and condolences to the victims of a recent tragedy in Australia, emphasizing Islam’s core principle of spreading peace and condemning violence against the innocent.