63,000 children will be born in Flanders by the end of the year. The figure remains more or less unchanged on the year. The preliminary figure comes from children’s agency Kind en Gezin. Noah for boys and Olivia for girls are the most popular first names for newborn babies. Olivia has been number one since 2018, Noah since 2020.
Kind en Gezin, monitors Flemish babies in the first 2.5 years of their life.
In 2023, 60,030 babies were born, the lowest level in 20 years, and the agency expects a similar figure to materialise by the end of the year.
Olivia and Noah continue to reign supreme
Like last year, Olivia, for a girl, and Noah, for a boy, remain the most popular given names.
Top 5 boys' names in Flanders:
1 Noah
2 Arthur
3 Jules
4 Liam
5 Leon
Top 5 girls' names in Flanders:
1 Olivia
2 Emma
3 Louise
4 Mila
5 Nora
These are provisional lists as more babies are still being born.
In most provinces, the top five first names are similar. In Limburg, parents choose Matteo more often, after Noah. And in West Flanders, the top 5 of girls' names looks completely different. There, Renée is the most popular, followed by Olivia, Juliette, Alice and Cézanne.
For boy's names, the L proves popular as the first letter. Besides Liam and Leon in the top 5, the top 10 also includes Louis (6), Lewis (9) and Lucas (10). On 7th place we find Adam, in 8th place Finn.
For girl's names, the A seems popular as the last letter. Besides Olivia, Emma, Mila and Nora in the top 5, the top 10 includes Lina (6) and Ella (8). In 7th spot we find Noor, in place 9 Marie and in 10th spot Juliette.