Eliana Overtakes Olivia: The UK's New No.1 Baby Girl Name for 2026

After twenty years at the top, Olivia has finally lost her crown. According to the latest BabyCentre Top 20 Baby Names list, Eliana is now the most popular baby girl name in the UK and parents can't get enough of it.

The News: Eliana Takes the Top Spot

Pronounced Ellie ah nah, Eliana climbed four places in just one year to knock Olivia off the No.1 spot it had held since 2016. It's one of the biggest baby name stories of 2026, and it marks the end of an era Olivia had been so dominant for so long that an entire generation of British parents grew up assuming it would never be beaten.

It's worth noting where this ranking comes from. BabyCentre's list is built from its own parenting platform data searches, saves and name-tool activity from expecting UK parents rather than official government birth records.

The Office for National Statistics ONS still shows Olivia as the top registered name for 2025 its 10th year running, with Muhammad remaining No.1 for boys. In other words: Olivia is still winning on paper, but Eliana is what parents are actually falling in love with right now and that's usually the strongest early signal of where next year's official rankings are headed.

Why Eliana Is Rising: The "Riviera Chic" Effect

Eliana's rise isn't happening by accident. Naming experts point to a wider 2026 trend nicknamed "Riviera Chic" a wave of soft, sun-soaked, effortlessly elegant names inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle aesthetic that's been dominating interiors, fashion and social feeds all year.

Alongside Eliana, other names riding this same wave include:

• Otis

• Christian

• Elliott

• Rio

• Nico

• Ottilie

• Talia

• Iris

• Liora

Rather than chasing names that are simply different, parents in 2026 seem to want something that feels meaningful, timeless and effortlessly stylish a name that will suit a baby, a schoolgirl and eventually a grown woman equally well.

The UK's Top Baby Names Right Now

Here's how BabyCentre's current rankings look for both girls and boys:

Freddie's appearance in the boys' top 10 is itself part of a bigger story the TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals has sparked a wave of interest in its characters' names, with Rupert also making one of the year's biggest jumps.

What Does Eliana Mean?

Eliana has roots in both Hebrew and Spanish, and is widely understood to mean "my God has answered". It shares its origins with names like Elijah and Eliana's own shortened form, Ellie which helps explain part of its appeal. It sounds fresh and international, but it's instantly familiar and easy to shorten, tick every box parents are currently looking for in a name.

If you love Eliana but want something a little different, its Riviera Chic siblings Liora, Talia and Ottilie carry a similar soft, sophisticated energy while still feeling that little bit rarer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is Eliana the official most popular baby name in the UK?

Not yet, officially. BabyCentre's platform data has Eliana at No.1, but the ONS's official 2025 birth registration figures (the government's gold standard source still show Olivia in the top spot. Eliana's rise on BabyCentre is widely seen as an early signal of where the official rankings are heading next.

Q2: How do you pronounce Eliana?

Eliana is pronounced Ellie ah nah.

Q3: What does the name Eliana mean?

Eliana is generally understood to mean "my God has answered," drawing on Hebrew and Spanish roots.

Q4: Which other names are trending in the UK alongside Eliana?

Otis, Christian, Elliott, Rio, Nico, Ottilie, Talia, Iris and Liora are all part of the same "Riviera Chic" naming wave in 2026.