19-05-2025
The UK's top 10 summer-inspired baby girl names includes two Scottish titles
Could this bout of stunning weather be used as inspiration for your baby's name?
One of the biggest decisions that parents-to-be need to make is coming up with a name for their little bundle of joy. For every couple, how they reach this decision is a different process.
Some people have had their baby names picked out for years, while others wait until their new boy or girl has arrived before seeing what title suits them.
And when it comes to actually deciding on a name, there are a huge amount of influencing factors. Is there an important family member you wish to name your child after, or a favourite TV show character?
What about after a place that's special to you as a couple, or a name that gives a nod to your heritage? Another option is to take inspiration from the world around you.
And given how incredible the weather has been in recent days and weeks, it wouldn't be too much of a shock if expectant couples were considering summer-themed names for their little one.
They wouldn't be alone either, as thousands of parents in Britain have named their child after something summery in recent years - including two with a very Scottish influence.
The team at QR Code Generator PRO SL analysed The Office for National Statistics data for 2023, segmenting all the girls names in England and Wales by summer-related themes and terminology to identify the most popular.
To make it a Britain-wide sample, the Daily Record added the Scottish figures from the same names from the National Records for Scotland publication for 2023.
Coming in at first place is the first of our two Scottish names; Isla. It is officially the most popular summer-inspired girl name in Britain, with 2,611 girls born with that name in 2023.
It was also the most popular girls name in Scotland that year - summer-themed or otherwise - with 274, making up more than 10 per cent of the number for the whole of Britain. The title is derived from the isle of Islay, which is particularly gorgeous in the warmer months.
This was followed by Daisy with 1,702 and Aurora with 1,032. Daisy comes from the Old English 'day's eye', which refers to how the flower opens its petals as the day breaks, while Aurora means 'dawn' and comes from the Latin word 'aurore' meaning 'to become light'.
Next up is the quintessential name for the sunny months; Summer, with 582 girls given this name in 2023. The top five is rounded off by Skye. Although it was actually sixth in the ONS figures, given the name comes from the stunning Scottish island, its popularity north of the border saw it shoot up one place.
As well as the Hebridean island, which is often ranked among the most beautiful places in the UK, the name could be inspired by the blue skies we (sometimes) enjoy during the summer months. There were 355 girls named Skye in 2023, with 78 (22 percent) coming from Scotland - where we even had one Aurora-Skye for a bit of double-barreled summer joy.
Bumped down one spot but no less worthy is Eliana, a name which was used 340 times. It has roots in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, and can mean either 'sun' or 'God has answered', depending on the interpretation.
In seventh place was Honey, with 174, closely followed by Meadow, with 158. Both come from Old English words: 'hunig' and 'mædwe'. There were 106 girls named Dahlia, after the bright summer flowers, while Sierra, which comes from the Spanish word for 'mountain range' finished off the top 10 with 62.
Britain's most popular summer-inspired baby girl names
Isla, 2,611
Daisy, 1,702
Aurora, 1,032
Summer, 582
Skye, 355
Eliana, 340
Honey, 174
Meadow, 158
Dahlia, 106
Sierra, 62
Discussing the findings, Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO SL, said: 'Choosing a name for your baby is one of the most significant decisions a parent can make, and some even believe it can shape their child as a person.
"Opting for a seasonal name can help narrow down your choices and commemorate when your baby was born. For many, summer is an especially appealing season to draw inspiration from, as it's an uplifting and social time that can also evoke memories of welcoming new life.'
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