The Virginia Department of Health has announced the top baby names for 2023. For boys, Liam took the top spot, while Charlotte continued to be the favorite for girls, just as it was in 2022. This list shows the wide range of inspirations for names chosen by Virginia parents, from spiritual to celebrity influences.
Top Baby Names
In 2023, the most popular names for boys were:
1. Liam
2. Noah
3. James
4. Oliver
5. William
6. Lucas
7. Henry
8. Theodore
9. Benjamin
10. Levi
11. Elijah
12. Luke
13. John
14. Michael
15. Gabriel
For girls, the top names were:
1. Charlotte
2. Emma
3. Olivia
4. Sophia
5. Amelia
6. Evelyn
7. Ava
8. Isabella
9. Elizabeth
10. Mia
11. Eleanor
12. Harper
13. Sofia
14. Luna
15. Abigail
Popular Names Among Different Ethnic Groups
The data also highlights the most popular names among various ethnic groups:
Asian Babies: Top names were Noah and Olivia. Other popular boys’ names included Lucas, Muhammad, Ethan, and Alexander. For girls, Ava, Sophia, Sophie, and Charlotte were favorites.
Black Babies: Noah and Ava were the most popular, followed by Amir, Josiah, Elijah, and Legend for boys, and Naomi, Nova, Serenity, and Autumn for girls.
Hispanic Babies: Liam and Mia were the top choices. Other popular names for boys included Mateo, Dylan, Thiago, and Lucas, while Camilla, Genesis, Isabella, and Sofia were popular for girls.
White Babies: James and Charlotte led the list. Other favored boys’ names included William, Oliver, Henry, and Liam, while Olivia, Emma, Amelia, and Sophia were popular for girls.
Historical Comparison
Reflecting on 1973, the most popular names were Michael and Jennifer. Other top names for boys included James, Christopher, John, Robert, and David. For girls, Angela, Kimberly, Melissa, Amy, and Michelle were popular choices.
Additional Birth Data
In 2023, August had the highest number of births with 8,426 babies delivered, while July 7 saw the most births on a single day with 332. Fridays were the busiest days in delivery rooms with 14,231 births, while Sundays were the least busy with 8,768 births. Virginia also saw 2,620 sets of twins and 76 sets of triplets born in 2023.
For more information on popular names by state since 1960, visit the Social Security Administration’s Popular Names by Decade tool.