News release

Most Popular Baby Names in Nova Scotia

Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services (July 2019 - May 2023)

Note: A list of the top baby names for 2020 follows this release. The 2020 information is current as of today, Dec. 30


Oliver is Nova Scotians’ favourite baby name for 2020.

The top 10 names for 2020 are Oliver, Olivia, Benjamin, William, Jack, Charlotte, Levi, Noah, Ivy and Ava, according to Nova Scotia's Registry of Vital Statistics.

The most popular names usually remain consistent over the years. There are a few new names gaining popularity such as Luke, Evelyn and Thomas, with some old favourites coming back like Henry and Nora.

Quick Facts:

  • there were 6,856 registered births this year in Nova Scotia as of Dec. 29
  • Nova Scotia began formally registering births on Aug. 1, 1864 and the most popular names that year were Mary and John
  • Charlotte was the top baby name for the province in 2019

Nova Scotia’s Registry of Vital Statistics top baby names for 2020:

Oliver (56), Olivia (54), Benjamin (48), William (48), Jack (47), Charlotte (41), Levi (41), Noah (41), Ivy (37), Ava (36), Henry (35), Nora (33), Liam (33), Owen (33), Luke (32), Amelia (30), Hudson (30), Thomas (29), Sophie (28), Evelyn (27), Isla (27), Sophia (27), Lily (26), Scarlett (26), Emma (25), Alexander (25), Leo (25), Theodore (25), Harper (24), Violet (24), Emmett (24), Jackson (24), James (24), Lucas (24), Carter (23), Ella (22), Abigail (21), Grace (21), Hannah (20), Avery (20)