baby names: the beloved oldies keep domining the game
Long-Time Favorites Reign as Preferred Baby Names
In 2024, the baby naming game continues to favor the tried and tested, as Sophia and Noah once again snatched the top spots in Germany's baby name race. The Society for the German Language (GfdS) ranks, which remained unchanged from 2023, cite sound and international understandability as key factors driving the popularity of these names.
After Sophia, Emilia and Emma arrive in second and third place, respectively for the girls, while Matteo (in various spellings), Leon, and Theo complete the top five, moving up slightly from last year. For the boys, Noah is followed by Matteo, Leon, Max, and Liam, again keeping their positions steady from 2023.
"Each year, parents seem attracted to names that sound pleasant and are easy to pronounce. Short names and those ending with vowels, like Noah, Sophia, or Emilia, tend to catch their fancy," said GfdS director, Andrea Ewels. The multicultural and globalized world seems to influence the trend toward internationally friendly names, Ewels adds.
Sophia, originally a name with Greek origins signifying "wisdom," has been a popular choice since the Middle Ages in Germany. In 2024, Noah, which means "rest" or "comfort" in Hebrew, remains as the most preferred name for baby boys, the GfdS explained. Both names have been widely popular in recent years, with no signs of slowing down.
While Sophia and Noah hold the top positions, experts familiar with the naming trends, like Knud Bielefeld, also cite Emilia and Noah as the most popular baby names in 2024. However, regional variations exist, with Saxony listing Mia and Emil as the top baby names for 2024, not Sophia and Noah.
In other news, about one-third of babies receive a middle name, with slightly over half being assigned a single name. Girls' middle names tend to be Sophie, Marie, or Maria, while Alexander, Maximilian, and Paul are common choices among boys. Gender-neutral naming choices remain limited when babies are first named, and diversity discussions are more relevant in adulthood.
In the upcoming years, following the popularity of traditional monikers, names like Emilia and Noah are predicted to remain at the top of the vocational training course in community policy discussions on baby naming trends, thanks to their international understandability and appealing sound. Despite Sophia and Noah dominating the game, family-dynamics in regions like Saxony might differ, with Mia and Emil taking the lead. In contrast, home-and-garden discussions about lifestyle choices and the naming of newborns might involve debates on the choice of middle names, with popular choices like Sophie, Marie, or Maria for girls and Alexander, Maximilian, and Paul for boys. As generations navigate these family-dynamics and relationship changes, gender-neutral naming choices could gain more traction, fostering diversity conversations in adulthood. Despite fluctuations over the decades, the beloved oldies like Sophia and Noah have managed to remain steady, offering a comforting aspect to the newborn naming game.
