NYC's Top Baby Names of 2023: A Mix of Tradition and New Trends

The NYC Department of Health recently released the top 10 baby names for 2023, revealing a mix of familiar favorites and exciting newcomers. While Emma and Liam secured their spots as the most popular names for girls and boys respectively, a couple of names broke into the top 10 for the first time ever.

Familiar Faces and Fresh Arrivals

Emma and Liam continued their reign as top choices, mirroring the trend of recent years. Mia and Noah followed closely behind in second place. However, a notable change is the entry of Muhammad, which tied for the number nine spot among boys' names, marking its first appearance in the top 10. This follows a similar trend seen in England and Wales.

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Other notable shifts include Sofia reclaiming the third spot for girls after a brief absence, and Chloe re-entering the top 10 after a few years. For boys, David rose to third place, pushing Ethan down, while Michael experienced a surprising return to popularity after a long hiatus. Dylan also made its debut in the top 10.

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" data-modal-image="34221949" width="886" height="590" src="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/95900263.jpg?w=1024" alt="A pregnant woman with post-it notes of baby names on her belly.">

Beyond the Top 10: Trending Names

The report also highlighted broader naming trends. Parents were inspired by nature and mythology, with names like Ares, Areus, and the gender-neutral Sage gaining popularity. Vintage names such as Maximus, Bernard, and Harriet also made a comeback.

2023 Baby Birth Statistics

A total of 98,389 babies were born in NYC in 2023, a slight decrease from the previous year. Manhattan had the highest number of births (39,484), followed by Brooklyn (22,297) and Queens (20,148).

Top 10 Baby Names in NYC (2023)

<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Rank</th> <th>Girls</th> <th>Boys</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>1</td> <td>Emma</td> <td>Liam</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2</td> <td>Mia</td> <td>Noah</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3</td> <td>Sofia</td> <td>David</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4</td> <td>Olivia</td> <td>Lucas</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5</td> <td>Isabella</td> <td>Jacob</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6</td> <td>Amelia</td> <td>Ethan</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7</td> <td>Leah</td> <td>Joseph</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8</td> <td>Chloe</td> <td>Dylan</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9</td> <td>Luna</td> <td>Michael*</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10</td> <td>Sophia</td> <td>Muhammad*</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

*Tied