These Were VA's Top Baby Names In 2023, State Officials Say

RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records on Tuesday unveiled its list of top 15 baby names for children born in the Commonwealth in 2023, revealing that parents in the state continue to choose diverse names for their newborns.

Liam topped the list of most popular names for boys in 2023, while Charlotte was the most popular name for girls for the second year in a row, according to state officials.

In 2022, there were 95,583 babies born in the state. While the number for 2023 is still being counted, the Office of Vital Records estimates there were a similar number of births last year.

"It’s always fun to see what the most popular baby names will be in Virginia," Seth Austin, state registrar and director of VDH’s Office of Vital Records, said in a statement. "The inspiration for a name can come from so many different places, and no matter the inspiration, these new babies' names will be central to their identity as they grow up and do great things in the world."

These were the top boys names in 2023:

1. Liam
2. Noah
3. James
4. Oliver
5. William
6. Lucas
7. Henry
8. Theodore
9. Benjamin
10. Levi
11. Elijah
12. Luke
13. John
14. Michael
15. Gabriel

These were the top girls names:

1. Charlotte
2. Emma
3. Olivia
4. Sophia
5. Amelia
6. Evelyn
7. Ava
8. Isabella
9. Elizabeth
10. Mia
11. Eleanor
12. Harper
13. Sofia
14. Luna
15. Abigail

The Office of Vital Records also tracked the most popular baby names of the year for the largest ethnic groups in the state including Asian, Black, Hispanic and white.

Among Asian babies born in 2023, Noah and Olivia were the most popular names. Lucas, Muhammad, Ethan and Alexander filled out the top five list for boys; meanwhile, Ava, Sophia, Sophie and Charlotte completed the top five list for girls.

For Black babies born in Virginia in 2023, Noah and Ava remained the most popular names from 2022. Amir, Josiah, Elijah and Legend rounded out the top five for boys; meanwhile, Naomi, Nova, Serenity and Autumn filled out the top five for girls.

Liam and Mia remained the top names for Hispanic boys and girls born in Virginia in 2023. Mateo, Dylan, Thiago and Lucas filled out the top five list for Hispanic boys names, while Camilla, Genisis, Isabella and Sofia completed the top five list for girls names.

James and Charlotte were the top names for white babies born in 2023, followed by William, Oliver, Henry and Liam for boys and Olivia, Emma, Amelia and Sophia for girls.

Information about popular names in each of the 50 states going back to 1960 is available from the Social Security Administration by using its Popular Names by Decade tool.