What are good baby names for 2027 in the UK?

Popular styles include nature names like Willow and Rowan, vintage names like Mabel and Arthur, short names like Nell and Finn, and Celtic names like Isla and Rhys. Agreeing on a style first makes a shortlist much easier.

How do couples agree on a baby name?

Each partner makes a longlist separately, then you only discuss the names you both chose. Say the shortlist out loud with your surname, check the initials, and take time before deciding.

When do you have to choose a baby name by?

GOV.UK says births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born. Different rules apply in Scotland. Many couples decide after meeting their baby.

Baby Names for 2027 Babies (UK): Ideas by Style, and How to Choose Together

If your baby is due in 2027, you probably have months to decide on a name — and one or two strong opinions already. This list groups ideas by style, because most couples agree on the feel of a name long before they agree on the name itself.

It isn't a ranking of the most popular names. It's a starting point: read it together, note the names that make either of you pause, and see where your lists overlap.

Nature names

Soft, outdoorsy and calm.

Girls: Willow, Ivy, Hazel, Wren, Iris, Juniper, Marigold, Fern, Poppy, Clover
Boys: Rowan, Ash, Forrest, Heath, Bram, Alder, Reed, Linden, Cedar, Brook
Any gender: River, Sage, Rain, Robin, Sky, Marlowe, Ocean

For many more, see our list of British nature-inspired baby names.

Vintage names

The names your great-grandparents had, sounding fresh again.

Girls: Edith, Mabel, Florence, Winifred, Ada, Maud, Nancy, Elsie, Violet
Boys: Albert, Stanley, Arthur, Percy, Wilfred, Otis, Ernest, Alfie, Sidney, Walter

Our guide to vintage baby names goes further back.

Short and strong

One or two syllables, easy to spell, hard to shorten.

Girls: Eve, Rose, Nell, June, Mae, Tess, Bea, Ruby, Kit, Faye
Boys: Jack, Max, Cole, Finn, Jude, Rex, Hugo, Ned, Sam, Ted

Celtic names

Irish, Scottish and Welsh names with real history behind them.

Girls: Niamh, Isla, Eilidh, Seren, Ffion, Orla, Aoife, Carys, Mairi, Nia
Boys: Rhys, Callum, Cian, Ewan, Dylan, Oisín, Lachlan, Evan, Rory, Iolo

We go deeper in our guide to Celtic baby names. If you choose a name with an unfamiliar spelling, think about how often you're both happy to spell it out.

Classic and timeless

Names that don't date, and work at every age.

Girls: Elizabeth, Charlotte, Eleanor, Catherine, Alice, Grace, Anna, Emily
Boys: William, Thomas, George, Henry, James, Edward, Oliver, Daniel

Literary names

From books and poems.

Girls: Matilda, Beatrice, Eliza, Imogen, Harriet, Jane, Ophelia
Boys: Atticus, Sebastian, Jasper, Laurie, Heathcliff, Felix, Darcy

Names that travel

Work across languages and families — useful if you're blending cultures, or have family abroad who'll need to say it.

Girls: Maya, Elena, Nina, Sofia, Lara, Anya, Leila, Mira
Boys: Leo, Luca, Adam, Noah, Theo, Samuel, Elias, Ari

Gender-neutral names

Alex, Charlie, Frankie, Jamie, Remy, Rowan, Sasha, Quinn, Eden, Morgan, Jordan, Avery

Surname-style names

Girls: Harper, Sloane, Blake, Sutton, Hollis
Boys: Hudson, Brooks, Carter, Grayson, Harrison
Any gender: Ellis, Reeve, Emerson

Word and virtue names

Girls: Hope, Grace, Joy, Honor, Liberty, Faith
Boys: True, Justice, Valour
Any gender: Ever, Story, Haven

Family names

Many couples use a name from each family, often as a middle name. It can be a lovely way to settle a disagreement: one of you chooses the first name, the other the middle name.

How to agree on a name together

The hardest part isn't finding names you like — it's finding ones you both like. A process that works for a lot of couples:

Each make a longlist on your own. No vetoes and no discussion yet. You'll be surprised by what overlaps.
Only talk about the matches. Names you both chose go through; the rest quietly drop off, so nobody has to argue against a name the other loves.
Allow a small number of vetoes each. Some couples give each person three "absolutely not" cards for the whole process, which stops one person blocking everything.
Say them out loud with your surname — and with the nicknames they'll inevitably get.
Check the initials. Write out the full initials, including middle names.
Try them for a week. Refer to the bump by a name on the shortlist and see how it feels.
Keep a shortlist of three rather than forcing a decision. Many couples wait until they meet the baby.

If you're stuck, our guide to when you can't agree on a baby name has more ideas.

Things worth checking before you decide

Spelling and pronunciation. Will people get it right the first time? Does that matter to you?
Meaning. Look it up in any language that's important to your family.
Nicknames. Imagine the ones a playground would come up with.
How it sounds with siblings' names, if you have or plan more children.
Whether you'd be happy calling it across a park.

When do you need to decide?

Not before the birth. GOV.UK says births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born, and different rules apply in Scotland. Plenty of couples meet their baby before choosing.

Swipe names together

BumpSync's baby name swiper does steps 1 and 2 for you: you both swipe through more than 14,000 names separately, and a name only becomes a match when you both like it. It's free, and your partner can join in seconds.