National

Oliver is B.C.'s most popular name in 2024, as century of data show names come and go

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Jan, 2025 05:43 PM

Oliver was the most popular name for babies in British Columbia in 2024, taking over from Noah, but both still have a long way to go to catch up with the most popular name of the past 100 years.

B.C.'s Vital Statistics Agency says there were 216 Olivers born in the past year, topping the list for the first time, followed by Olivia, Liam, Noah, and Theodore.

The top ten for 2024 is rounded out by Charlotte, Lucas, Isla, Amelia and Leo.

But none of those names come close to Robert, which was bestowed on only 14 B.C. babies in 2024, but reigns as the most popular name over the past 100 years, being used 36,065 times.

Close behind is David on 35,364, while the most popular traditional girl's name since 1925 is Jennifer, used 15,959 times.

The statistics show how name trends come and go, with not a single Noah registered in B.C. until 1973.

And while Susan and Patricia are among the most popular girls' names since 1925, no Susans or Patricias were born in B.C. in 2024.

Diversity of names has also increased -- although Noah was the only name used more than 200 times in 2024, more than 30 names were used more than 200 times each in 1984, when the most popular name, Michael, was used 813 times.

The Vital Statistics Agency says that as of Dec. 16, 38,103 babies were registered as born in B.C. in 2024.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

All premiers aligned on push for Canada to have bilateral trade deal with U.S.: Ford

All 13 provincial and territorial premiers are aligned on a push for the federal government to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday. Ford, who is the current chair of the Council of the Federation, the group of Canada's 13 premiers, said they had a call and there is a clear consensus that the country needs separate agreements with the U.S. and Mexico.

All premiers aligned on push for Canada to have bilateral trade deal with U.S.: Ford

Arrest made in homicide: VPD

Police in Vancouver say they have made an arrest in the stabbing death of a 34-year-old man in the city's Downtown Eastside a year ago. They say Stephen Crock was found on the sidewalk near East Hastings and Columbia suffering from stab wounds on November 21st, 2023.

Arrest made in homicide: VPD

Lineup released for the Invictus Games

Vancouver Whistler Games Corporation has announced the lineup for the closing ceremonies of the 2025 Invictus Games. The closing ceremony, which will take place at Rogers Arena on February 16th, will include Nashville country singer Jelly Roll, Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, and Americana music duo The War And Treaty.

Lineup released for the Invictus Games

Avian flu at 2 farms in Abbotsford

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza at two more commercial poultry farms in Abbotsford. The agency currently lists 43 premises in B-C where the flu has been detected in bird flocks.

Avian flu at 2 farms in Abbotsford

Emergency alert test coming as B.C. mops up from 'bomb cyclone' with high winds

A test for Canada's emergency alert system is set to take place just as British Columbia cleans up from a so-called "bomb cyclone" weather system that cut power and battered parts of the coast with hurricane-force winds. The national alert system is typically tested twice a year, with the next test set to take place today at 1:55 p.m. Pacific time.

Emergency alert test coming as B.C. mops up from 'bomb cyclone' with high winds

B.C. port union challenges constitutionality of labour minister's back-to-work order

The union representing port supervisors in British Columbia is formally challenging the legal and constitutional authority of the federal labour minister to order them back to work. In a legal document dated Tuesday, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 says it's questioning whether the order issued by Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon last week violates the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike.