Health Department Announces Top Baby Names in New York City
Emma And Liam Continue To Reign As Favorite Among New Yorkers
98,389 Babies Made Their Big Apple Entrance In 2023
December 27, 2024 — Today, the New York City Health Department announced the most popular names for babies born in New York City in 2023. The names held to a tried-and-true precedent, with Emma and Liam retaining the top spots in 2023, extending their power on the list.
Liam has been the number one name for boys since 2016 while Emma has been the top choice for girls since 2017. In 2023, 382 Emmas and 743 Liams were born, according to New York City birth certificate records. Mia and Noah continue to come in as second favorites among New Yorkers.
“Our youngest New Yorkers are what make our city so special,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “We welcome Emma, Liam, Mia, Noah, and all the other newborns to New York. With your presence, our city is a more joyful, brighter place for the new year and beyond.”
| Most Popular Baby Names in New York City, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| RANK | GIRLS | BOYS |
| 1 | Emma | Liam |
| 2 | Mia | Noah |
| 3 | Sophia | David |
| 4 | Olivia | Lucas |
| 5 | Isabella | Jacob |
| 6 | Amelia | Ethan |
| 7 | Leah | Joseph |
| 8 | Chloe | Dylan |
| 9 | Luna | Michael* |
| 10 | Sofia | Muhammad* |
* Tied.
New Names on the Rise
While most of the names in the top ten from 2022 stood their ground, new names made their way to the top of the 2023 list. Sofia returned to the top ten after being bumped by Esther the previous year. Isabella and Amelia moved up a few spaces, bringing Leah down two spots. A former top baby name in 2020, Chloe emerged a winner with close to 250 baby girls given the name in 2023.
David moved up the ranks to top three, bumping Ethan from number three all the way down to number seven. Sending Alexander all the way down to number 17, Dylan and Muhammad rose to the top for the first time. Michael, a previous favorite among New Yorkers from 1980 to 2006, made its way back to the top ten.
New York City Births by Borough, 2023
| Borough of Report | Count |
|---|---|
| Manhattan | 39,484 |
| Bronx | 10,613 |
| Brooklyn | 22,297 |
| Queens | 20,148 |
| Staten Island | 5,847 |
Spectacular Settings
New York parents looked for inspiration in other cities for their babies: Zion (62), Cairo (110), Phoenix (133), London (109), Sydney (110), Brooklyn (116), Paris (116), Milan (116 for girls and 70 for boys), and Savannah (85).
Vintage Names Making a Comeback
Parents across the five boroughs paid respect to the elders in their lives by picking names such as Esther (12), Miriam (15), Eleanor (56), Ruth (102), Norah (105), Beatrice (111), Harriet (123), Doris (124), Meredith (124), Leonardo (65), Maximus (133), Graham (137), Bruce (142), and Bernard (145).
An Abiding Interest in Nature
In the concrete jungle, top baby names reflected the beauty of nature and the seasons: Violet (45), Rose (52), Gemma (78), Daisy (93), Sage (100 for girls and 139 for boys), Pearl (107), Aura (111), Sapphire (116) and Flora (118).
A Herculean Effort
In 2023, parents leaned into the names from mythical tales: Adonis (76), Amari (78), Ares (125), Atreus (145), Aurora (41), Athena (79), and Iris (87).
Resources for Expectant Parents
The Health Department has a webpage to guide parents with filling out legal paperwork related to their child including birth certificates, acknowledgement of parentage for unmarried parents. For additional details, please visit Expecting Parents.
Parents who need more time to name their child for religious or other reasons may register their child’s birth without a first name and add their child’s name later. They may do this without a fee either through DOHMH, within 60 days of birth, or through the birthing hospital within 12 months of date of birth. Once the name is added, it is final and requires a correction to change.
The Health Department also provides information on free or low-cost services for new parents, ranging from pre-pregnancy health-related issues to resources for new parents to keep their babies healthy. For more information, please visit Pregnancy and Baby Care.
The Health Department Bureau of Vital Statistics compiles baby name lists from birth certificates and collects other data, including total births by year and demographic characteristics. To learn more about the information gathered from birth certificates, please visit Vital Statistics.
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MEDIA CONTACT: PressOffice@health.nyc.gov