The most popular baby names for 2017 so far

For a while there, baby names were veering more towards the kooky than the classic.

However it seems parents (aside from Beyonce and her latest efforts with Sir and Rumi) are going back to the traditional, with UK website BabyCentre’s newly released mid-year naming charts offering a glimpse of what’s inspiring mums and dads-to-be when it comes to choosing a moniker for their offspring.

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With vintage and flower-inspired names dominating the top spots, the baby name choices outside the top 20 often reveal up-and-coming trends as well as more unusual picks.

Turns out parents are looking to the US for political inspo with the surnames of Abraham Lincoln and Jimmy Carter being given as first names for boys, along with Franklin, Theodore and Teddy (after Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt) and John (after JFK).

Sadly we’re probably not going to see a generation of baby Donalds just yet, but you never know.

And first ladies are also offering parents some naming food for thought, with Nancy (Reagan) and Michelle (Obama) becoming increasing popular. No registrations yet for current FLOTUS Melania, though. Perhaps she’s following step daughter Ivanka in the unpopular baby name stakes.

Parents are also looking to give their little ones a name with meaning as Faith, Hope, Joy and Grace have all been registered already this year.

And blame Beyonce (Blue Ivy), or Cheryl Cole (Bear Grey) but colours are fast becoming popular as an unusual and distinctive name choice for bubbas with Scarlett, Olive, Sienna, Amber, Violet and Ruby all appearing outside the top 20.

The big news in boys names is all things retro with parents returning to 70s classics as naming inspo for their little boys. Forget old-fashioned choices like Archie and Albert, traditional faves such as Michael, Peter, David, Andrew, and Adrian are all having something of a revival.

“From these half year results we might be looking at a future generation divided between those named after power icons and those with names inspired by more spiritual values. Not to mention a resurgence of solid 70s classics and a generation of colourful girls," said Lorna Marsh, BabyCentre associate editor.

The top 20 names for boys and girls so far this year:

Girls

1. Olivia

2. Sophia

3. Amelia

4. Isla

5. Lily

6. Emily

7. Ava

8. Isabella

9. Mia

10. Isabelle

11. Grace

12. Charlotte

13. Poppy

14. Ella

15. Evie

16. Sophie

17. Phoebe

18. Freya

19. Chloe

20. Ivy

Boys

1. Muhammad

2. Oliver

3. Harry

4. Noah

5. Freddie

6. George

7. Jack

8. Jacob

9. Charlie

10. Leo

11. William

12. Joshua

13. Oscar

14. Henry

15. James

16. Archie

17. Alfie

18. Theo

19. Logan

20. Max

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