St. John's 
Statistics Canada has revealed the top baby names for the year 2022.
Credit: Gigin Krishnan / Unsplash
For boys, “Noah” maintained its position as the most popular name for the second consecutive year, extending its remarkable streak within the top 10 for 18 years.
On the girls’ side, “Olivia” remained undefeated for seven consecutive years as the preferred name. Interestingly, the rivalry for the top girl’s name spot has been consistent between “Emma” and “Olivia” since 2003.
Statistics Canada says while Canada’s population experienced significant changes in 2022, with close to 98% of its growth between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, attributed to net international migration, only 2% of the population growth was attributed to the difference between births and deaths. Notably, fertility rates in Canada reached record-low levels in 2022, with an average of 1.33 children per woman, down from 1.44 in 2021.
Here’s a closer look at the top baby names in the country:
Boys’ Names:
- Noah continued its reign as the most popular boys’ name in Canada for the second consecutive year. Remarkably, it has maintained a spot in the top 10 for 18 years.
- Notable newcomers to the top 100 list for boys in 2022 included Luka, Leon, Jules, Milo, and Weston.
- Oliver made a significant leap, jumping four spots within just one year.
Girls’ Names:
- For girls, Olivia retained its position at the top, extending its undefeated streak to seven years. The rivalry for the number one spot between Olivia and Emma has persisted since 2003.
- The name Wren broke into the top 100 list for girls, signalling its rising popularity.
- Lily also made a notable jump, climbing four spots within the top 10.
Diversity in Baby Names:
- Over the past 30 years, Canada has seen a 31% increase in the number of baby names registered, highlighting a growing diversity in naming choices.
- In 1992, there were 33,940 baby names recorded, a number that has risen to 44,545 in 2022.
- Unique or rare names (fewer than five children with the same name), constituted a substantial 86% of all baby names in 2022, reflecting a trend towards distinctive and individualized monikers.
