First names 2023: the 40 trendy first names of this year

What will be the most popular first names for girls and boys in 2023? For The official names 2023, the authors Stéphanie Rapoport and Claire Tabarly Perrin studied the trends. And here is the list of the 40 most popular first names of the moment.

Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it's a puzzle. Choosing a first name for their child is the first decision that (future) parents have to make. Decisive decision. 'The first name appears as a first parental desire projected onto this life which is beginning, a first gift to the child » , analyzes the researcher in social and cognitive psychology, author of The science of names , Anne-Laure Sellier. In France, there is no rule for assigning a first name to a child .

Once the baby is born, the parents have three days to register it in the civil registry. And they can (almost) do anything. The only prohibition: impossible to give your son or daughter a surname for a first name, as this constitutes identity theft. But they can choose a first name of French origin or of arab origin , Japanese or Breton (without special characters), they can opt for a short, long or compound first name , for a classic first name or an original first name.

First names 2023: discover the trends / Credit: Unsplash

First names 2023: what are the trends?

For The official names 2023 (First editions), released Thursday, September 1, 2022, authors Stéphanie Rapport and Claire Tabarly Perrin studied trends. And fashion is short first names : five letters on average for the most popular first names for girls, seven letters for first names for boys. The vintage first names also have the coast : with a return in the rankings of Louis, Marcel, Jacques, Angèle, Joséphine or Madeleine. We can imagine that the success of the Belgian singer Angèle is not for nothing in this return. Indeed, the stars who make the news inspire parents. In recent years, many Elons, a reference to Elon Musk, boss of Tesla, have been born (more than 500 in France in 2022). We can also note the increase in the births of Archie, a royal first name since it is the one chosen by Meghan and Harry for their first baby. And if compound names are not really trendy , the girl name Lily-Rose is rather popular, certainly thanks to the daughter of Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp.

More and more parents are opting for names with a religious connotation , such as Adam, Noah, Raphael, Eden or Gabriel (relegated to the second place of the most given boy names after years in first place). Another trend: first names for girls or boys referring to nature. An effect of the awakening of consciences on ecology? Maybe. In any case, rare first names like Zéphyr which means wind or Nour and Lucas which mean light have been given in recent years. There is also an increase in the names of flowers (Rose, Iris), stone (Jade, Amber, Agathe), fruits (Cassis, Clementine), season (Summer, Autumn) and even star (Sun, Moon, Cosmine, Orion). So many trends that are found in the top of the most given first names in France in 2022. Here is the list of the most popular girl's and boy's first names of the moment according to The official names 2023 . Something to give parents ideas.

Baby names 2023: the 20 most popular boy names

1) LEO

Origin : Leo means Lion in Latin.

Recurrence : 4491 children were baptized Leo in 2020.

Party : Saint Leo is celebrated on November 10.

Leo is the most given boy name in 2022 / Credit: Unsplash

2) GABRIEL

Origin : Gabriel is a hebrew first name which means 'force of God'. It is also the name of one of the three archangels of the Bible, with Saint Michael and Saint Raphael.

Recurrence : 4195 babies were called Gabriel in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Gabriel's Day is celebrated on September 29.

3) RAPHAEL

Origin : In Hebrew, Raphael means “God healed”.

Recurrence : 3965 Raphaël were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : Like the Gabriels, the Raphaels are celebrated on September 29.

4) ARTHUR

Origin : In Celtic, Arthur means bear. It is also the name of the famous King Arthur.

Recurrence : 3797 children were baptized Arthur in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Arthur is celebrated on November 15.

5) LOUIS

Origin : First name of German origin, Louis means praise, fame. Many French kings have borne this first name.

Recurrence : 3791 children were called Louis in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Louis are celebrated on August 25.

6) JULES

Origin : Julius comes from the Latin 'Julius' which was a surname in Roman times (before Julius Caesar).

Recurrence : 3546 Jules were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : Saint Jules is celebrated on April 12.

7) MAEL

Origin : In Celtic, Maël means prince or lord.

Recurrence : 3291 children were baptized Jules in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Mael are celebrated on May 13.

8) ADAM

Origin : Adam is a biblical first name, first name of the first man created by god on the sixth day of the creation of the earth.

Recurrence : 3189 children were called Adam in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Adam's Day takes place on June 17.

9) GABIN

Origin : Gabin comes from the name of a town in Italy: Gabies.

Recurrence : 2718 babies were baptized Gabin in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Gabriels are celebrated on February 19.

10) NOAH

Origin : In Arabic, Noah means rest.

Recurrence : 2798 Noah were born in France in the year 2020.

Choosing the right baby name. Credit: Istock

11) HUG

Origin : Hugo comes from the German hug which means intelligent.

Recurrence : 3121 children were called Hugo in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Hugo takes place on April 1 (and it's not a joke).

12) LUCAS
Origin : Lucas means light in Latin.

Recurrence : 3243 boys were called Lucas in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Lucas is celebrated on October 18.

13) LIAM

Origin : Liam comes from the Irish meaning 'will'.

Recurrence : 2675 children were baptized Liam in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Liam's Day takes place on January 10.

14) SACHA

Origin : Sacha is a first name meaning man, virile, protect.

Recurrence : 2545 boys were called Sacha in France during the year 2020.

15) AARON

Origin : Aaron comes from the Hebrew which means the one who comes after. He is the brother of Moses.

Recurrence : 2310 children were baptized Aaron in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Aaron is celebrated on July 1

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16) LEON

Origin : Like Leo, Leon comes from the Latin lion.

Recurrence : 2154 boys were called Léon in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Leon takes place on August 31.

17) ISAAC

Origin : Isaac comes from the Hebrew meaning God smiles.

Recurrence : 1909 babies were called Isaac in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Isaac's Day is celebrated on November 20.

18) PAUL

Origin : In Latin, Paulus means small.

Recurrence : 2468 boys were called Paul in France during the year 2020.

Party : Les Paul is celebrated on June 29.

19) NATHAN

Origin : In Hebrew, Nathan means gift from God.

Recurrence : 2399 children were baptized Nathan in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Nathan's Day takes place on August 24.

20) NOAH

Origin : Noah comes from the Hebrew which means to rest. It is a biblical name (Noah's ark).

Recurrence : 2068 babies were called Noé in France during the year 2020.

Party : Noah is celebrated on November 10.

First name 2023: the 20 most popular girl names

1) EXIT

Origin : Jade is the name of a stone from the Orient.

Recurrence : 3812 babies were baptized Jade in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Holy Jade takes place on June 29.

Jade is the most popular girl's name in 2022 / Credit: Istock

2) LOUISE

Origin : Louise comes from the German which means illustrious, fighter.

Recurrence : 3807 girls were called Louise in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Louise is celebrated on March 15.

3) EMMA

Origin : Emma comes from the Hebrew meaning God with us.

Recurrence : 3478 babies were called Emma in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Emma takes place on April 19.

4) AMBER

Origin : Amber comes from the Greek meaning immortal. It is also the name of a stone.

Recurrence : 2735 girls were called Jade in France during the year 2020.

5) ALICE

Origin : Of German origin, the first name Alice means from our lineage.

Recurrence : 2977 Alice were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : Saint Alice is celebrated on December 16.

6) DAWN

Origin : Alba comes from the Latin is meaning light, dawn.

Recurrence : 969 babies were baptized Alba in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Alba are celebrated on June 22.

7) ROSE

Origin : Rose is the name of the rose flower.

Recurrence : 2656 Rose were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : The Holy Rose takes place on August 23.

8) ANNA

Origin : Anna comes from the Hebrew meaning grace.

Recurrence : 2363 girls were called Anna in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Annas are celebrated on July 26.

9) ROMY

Origin : First name of Latin origin, Romy was popularized by Romy Schneider.

Recurrence : 2188 Romy were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : Saint Romy takes place on August 23.

10) MIA

Origin : Mia comes from the Latin meaning loved.

Recurrence : 1598 babies were baptized Mia in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Mia are celebrated on February 20.

11) JULIA

Origin : Julia is a first name of Latin origin.

Recurrence : 2254 girls were called Julia in France during the year 2020.

12) LINA

Origin : Of Latin origin, the first name Lina means Lin.

Recurrence : 2714 Lina were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : Saint Lina takes place on September 23.

13) LOU

Origin : Lou is a derivative of Louis.

Recurrence : 2146 girls were called Lou in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Lou takes place on August 25.

14) IRIS

Origin : In Greek, Iris means rainbow. It is also the name of a flower.

Recurrence : 1666 Irises were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : The Irises are celebrated on September 4.

15) CHLOÉ

Origin : Chloé comes from the Greek meaning greenery.

Recurrence : 2472 babies were called Chloé in France during the year 2020.

Party : Sainte Chloé takes place on October 5th.

16) AGATHE

Origin : In Greek, Agatha means good.

Recurrence : 1920 children were called Agathe in France during the year 2020.

Party : Saint Agatha is celebrated on February 5.

17) LEA

Origin : Like Léo, the etymology of Léa is the word lion.

Recurrence : 2426 girls were baptized Léa in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Léas are celebrated on March 22.

18) LÉNA

Origin : In Greek, Lena means radiance of the sun.

Recurrence : 1920 Léna were born in France in the year 2020.

Party : Saint Lena takes place on August 18.

19) CHARLIE

Origin : Charlie is from German Karl which means strong, vigorous.

Recurrence : 1623 babies were called Charlie in France during the year 2020.

Party : The Charlie's birthday is November 4.

20) INES

Origin : Inès means purity in Latin.

Recurrence : 1927 girls were called Inès in France during the year 2020.

Party : Sainte Inès takes place on July 12.