Freya has replaced Olivia as the most chosen name for baby girls in Scotland, as Noah remains number one for boys, according to figures from the National Records for Scotland (NRS).
In 2025, 267 baby girls were named Freya, and although it has been in the top three girls’ names for the past three years, this is the first time it’s hit the top spot.
A total of 318 babies were called Noah in 2025 – a name which has been in the top three since 2020.
For girls, the biggest climbers within the top 100 were Lilly and Matilda, which both moved up 55 places to 83rd and 93rd respectively.
Darcy moved up by 52 places to 100th, and Margot up by 45 to 79th.
Soaring up the boys’ top 100 were Vinnie, up 70 places to 95th, Cooper, up 42 places to 79th, and Ruaridh, up 33 places to 52nd.
NRS statistician Anouska Pandya said: “NRS sends congratulations to everyone who welcomed babies in 2025.
It’s always exciting to see a name reach the number one spot for the first time. Freya has taken a long time to reach the top. The name ranked 578th in the 1970s and rose in popularity each decade until arriving at number one in 2025.”
A record 3,957 names are now in use for boys, and there are 4,603 names for girls, however that number has fallen slightly since 2024.
NRS said the data doesn’t provide evidence for why particular names rise or fall in popularity but sometimes changes coincide with their use in popular culture.
It’s thought Freya could have been popularised by the name of an actress in TV show The Witcher and a character in another show called The Originals.
Hit Netflix show Bridgerton could also have had an impact on names, with Daphne, Eloise, and Penelope all gaining popularity.
If these kinds of stars aren’t enough, the cosmos might also be having an influence. The name Aurora has been climbing alongside increased visibility of the aurora borealis or Northern Lights.
Record numbers of parents have embraced the name for their babies, with 74 and 89 girls being called Aurora each year respectively.
Meanwhile analysis of the data has found parents showing a growing preference for names beginning with the letter A.
Fourteen per cent of girls and 11.7% of boys now have names starting with the first letter of the alphabet. Girls led the way with A the most popular initial since 2004. Boys caught up with the A-team trend in 2017.
Additionally NRS reports that parents increasingly choose names ending in the letters ie. Among girls, 13.4% born last year have a name ending ie, and 8% of boys.
That’s up from 4.5% of girls and under 1% of boys in 1974 and all time highs for this name ending. Names like Archie, Freddie, Brodie, Millie, Rosie and Maisie have been driving the trend.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
