FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 2, 2025
Media Contact: Tristen Franklin, tristen.franklin@vdh.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Health and Office of Vital Records Release Top Baby Names for 2024, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data
RICHMOND, Va. – Choosing the perfect baby’s name is one of the first big decisions for new parents. However, certain names stole the spotlight in 2024 in the state of Virginia. Whether inspired by timeless classics, modern trends, or cultural favorites, these names are winning over families across the state. But the best name of all the 94,443 babies born in 2024 is the one you chose for your own bundle of joy.
“The 2024 list showcases a blend of strong, meaningful names that parents are embracing for their little ones,” said Celes Davis, chief deputy state registrar for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Today, the Office of Vital Records (OVR) in the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) unveils its lists of top 15 baby names for children born in the Commonwealth in 2024. Curious to see if your favorite made the list?
Liam and Charlotte continue to hold their reign as Virginia’s most popular baby names in 2024, just as they did in 2023. Liam remains the top choice for boys, while Charlotte keeps its crown as the most popular name for girls, marking another year at the top.
Overall, for boys born in 2024, after Liam, the names of Noah, James, Oliver, William, Henry, Theodore, Lucas, Elijah, John, Levi, Ethan, Dylan, Benjamin and Michael rounded out the Top 15. The remaining popular girl’s names were Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Amelia, Isabella, Mia, Ava, Eleanor, Evelyn, Harper, Elizabeth, Sofia, Abigail and Aurora.
Data also reveals the most popular baby names for Asian, Black, Hispanic and White parents.
Among Asian parents, the Top Five boys’ and girls’ names were Noah and Sophia, followed by Muhammad, Henry, Lucas and Ethan for the boys and Emma, Olivia, Chloe and Eliana for the girls. Black parents’ Top Five boys’ and girls’ names were Noah and Nova, followed by Amir, Josiah, Elijah and Ezra for the boys and Naomi, Ava, Brielle and Zuri for the girls. Among Hispanic parents, the top boys’ and girls’ names were Liam and Mia with Dylan, Matteo, Noah and Thiago rounding out the Top Five for boys and with Isabella, Sofia, Genesis and Camila round out the Top Five for girls. For White parents, James and Charlotte were the most popular names followed by William, Oliver, Henry and Theodore rounding out the Top Five for boys and Olivia, Eleanor, Amelia and Emma rounding out the Top Five for girls.
Baby name trends are always evolving, and over the past five years, we’ve seen some exciting shifts. From 2019 to 2024, new favorites have emerged, classic names have made comebacks, and unique picks have skyrocketed in popularity. Whether inspired by pop culture, nature, or timeless elegance, these rising baby names are shaping a whole new generation. Curious which names are climbing the charts? Let’s take a look at the baby names on the rise.
Boys
| Rank | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| 1 | Liam | Liam | Liam | Liam | Liam | Liam |
| 2 | Noah | Noah | Noah | Noah | Noah | Noah |
| 3 | William | William | James | James | James | James |
| 4 | James | James | William | William | Oliver | William |
| 5 | Lucas | Oliver | Oliver | Oliver | William | Oliver |
Girls
| Rank | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| 1 | Ava | Charlotte | Charlotte | Charlotte | Charlotte | Charlotte |
| 2 | Charlotte | Olivia | Olivia | Olivia | Olivia | Olivia |
| 3 | Olivia | Ava | Emma | Emma | Emma | Sophia |
| 4 | Emma | Emma | Ava | Ava | Sophia | Emma |
| 5 | Sophia | Amelia | Sophia | Amelia | Amelia | Amelia |
In 1998, more than a quarter of a century ago, parents were choosing names that would define a generation. Jacob and Emily topped the charts as the most popular baby names when 912 baby boys were named Jacob, and 684 baby girls were named Emily. Other classics like Matthew, Hannah, Michael and Sarah followed close behind. 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.
Ever wondered when most babies make their grand entrance into the world? Turns out, some days, months, and even weekdays are busier than others when it comes to birthdays! From the most common birth date to fun twin and triplet stats, here are some fascinating birth facts from 2024:
- Month Most Births Occurred In: August (8,370)
- Day Most Births Occurred on: October 18 (344 births)
- Most common birthday of the week: Friday (14,274 births)
- Least common birthday of the week: Sunday (8,778 births)
- Total Born as Twins: 2,806
- Total Born as Triplets: 53
- New Year’s Eve Births (December 31, 2023): 177
- New Year’s Day Births (January 1, 2024): 161
- Babies sharing a birthday with Mom: 277
- Babies sharing a birthday with Dad: 283
If you are looking for more records like this for the state of Virginia, the Office of Vital Records is Virginians’ one-stop shop for any number of personal records requests including birth and death certificates, and marriage and divorce records.
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