Most Popular Baby Names in Nova Scotia in 2015

NOTE: A list of the top 20 baby names for boys and girls for 2015 follows this release.

The results are in! According to Nova Scotia's Registry of Vital Statistics, those who wrote Ava or Owen on a birth certificate this year were not alone. Nova Scotia welcomed at least 56 babies named Ava and 59 named Owen to the province.

"I extend my sincerest congratulations to all the parents who welcomed a child into their family this year," said Mark Furey, Minister of Service Nova Scotia. "There is nothing quite like being a parent. Take time to enjoy every moment."

Following Ava and Owen, of the 7,154 registered births in Nova Scotia this year, the top five girls' names were Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Sadie and Abigail and the top five boys' names were William, Liam, Benjamin, Oliver and Jack.

The most popular names have remained fairly consistent over the past few years with only a few new names making the top 20 list for 2015. New to the top 20 are Scarlett, Madison, Audrey, Sophie, Grace, Addison, Autumn and Ellie for girls and Logan, Wyatt, Emmett, Henry and Parker for boys.

Following are the top 20 baby names for boys and girls born in Nova Scotia in 2015:

GIRLS
Ava 56, Olivia 48, Emma 40, Charlotte 39, Sadie 36, Abigail 33, Amelia 30, Emily 30, Scarlett 30, Sophia 30, Audrey 28, Chloe 26, Madison 26, Sophie 25, Nora 24, Grace 23, Addison 22, Alexis 22, Autumn 22, Brooklyn 22, Ellie 22.

BOYS
Owen 59, William 53, Liam 48, Benjamin 44, Oliver 42, Jack 39, Jacob 39, Hunter 37, Logan 37, Mason 37, Noah 36, Carter 34, Ethan 33, Wyatt 33, Jackson 31, Emmett 30, Parker 29, Alexander 28, Henry 28, Lucas 28.