News release

Olivia, Jacob Most Popular Baby Names in Nova Scotia in 2012

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

NOTE: A list of the top 20 baby names for boys and girls for 2012 follows this release.


Those who wrote Olivia or Jacob on a birth registration this year were not alone. According to Nova Scotia's Registry of Vital Statistics, Olivia was the most popular name for girls in 2012 while Jacob held the top spot for boys' names.

Rounding out the top five names were Emma, Lily, Sophia and Ava for girls, and Ethan, Benjamin, Lucas and Owen for boys.

"I understand that John hasn't been number one for boys in Nova Scotia since 1970, so I was hoping it would make a comeback this year," said John MacDonell, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "In all seriousness, the provincial government extends congratulations to all families who welcomed babies this year, and wishes our newest Nova Scotians health, happiness and prosperity."

The most popular names have remained fairly consistent over the past few years with only a few new names on the list in 2012. New to the top 20 in 2012 are Leah, Avery, Sadie and Sarah for girls and Jackson, Wyatt and Isaac for boys.

There were 8,060 registered births in Nova Scotia in 2012.


Following are the top 20 baby names for boys and girls born in Nova Scotia in 2012:

GIRLS
Olivia 58, Emma 57, Lily 50, Sophia 50, Ava 47, Sophie 46, Emily 41, Abigail 40, Chloe 34, Isabella 34, Ella 32, Brooklyn 30, Charlotte 29, Leah 27, Avery 26, Sadie 25, Hannah 24, Addison 23, Alexis 23, Madison 21

BOYS
Jacob 64, Ethan 60, Benjamin 56, Lucas 55, Owen 54, Noah 53, Liam 52, Mason 49, Carter 44, Hunter 44, William 43, Jack 42, Logan 42, James 41, Alexander 40, Jackson 38, Wyatt 36, Isaac 34, Nathan 34, Samuel 33.