Elias and Brandur emerge as most popular baby names in 2023

Elias and Brandur Highly Popular

Elias emerged as the most popular name for boys born in 2023, with eleven boys given this name. The second most favored name was Brandur, bestowed upon ten boys. Typically, more than five individuals sharing a name are required to top the list of most popular names, indicating the exceptional appeal of Elias and Brandur last year, according to Hagstovan.

Other popular names for boys included Liam, Nói, Martin, and Jákup. Since 1985, several new names have made their way onto the list, with Silas, Nói, Jónatan, Liam, and Bragi gaining notable popularity in recent years. The name Grettir was registered for newborn boys for the first time in 2023.

In total, 312 boys were born in 2023, with approximately 60 percent receiving a name this year. Four boys born last year have yet to be named.

Tóra Tops the List for Girls

For girls, Tóra was the most popular name for newborns, marking the first time this has occurred since 1985. Five of the 262 girls born in 2023 were named Tóra. The second most popular names included Lív, Lilja, Olivia, Marta, Bjarta, Sólja, and Isabella, with Lív consistently ranking highly over the years. Since 1985, 121 girls have been named Lív, while Isabella has recently gained significant popularity.

A total of 25 names were tied for third place among girls. Popular names in this category include Anna, Rakul, Hanna, and Eva, while newer names such as Svala, Nóra, Luna, and Rán have emerged in the last three years. Since 1985, many new girls’ names have been added to the list, with Ró, Emilia, Ranja, Brá, Vón, and Ria seeing widespread use. The name Bianka was registered for the first time for newborn girls in 2023.

Approximately 70 percent of the 262 girls born last year were named in their birth year. Over the last decade, a relatively larger proportion of girls than boys have been named in their birth year.

As it can take up to six months for a child to be named, the naming statistics for 2023 will be compiled after July 1, reports Hagstovan.