The New York City Health Department (DOHMH) has announced the most popular baby names in the Five Boroughs for 2023, with Emma and Liam continuing to hold their top spots among new parents.
Liam has been the top baby name in NYC since 2016, and Emma joined the top spot in 2017 and has held it ever since. In 2023, a total of 98,389 babies were born across the city, with 382 Emmas and 743 Liams born, according to New York City birth certificate records.
“Our youngest New Yorkers are what make our city so special,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “We welcome Emma, Liam, Mia, Noah, and all the other newborns to New York. With your presence, our city is a more joyful, brighter place for the new year and beyond.”
The remaining top girl names for 2023 included Mia (maintaining its second-place spot from last year), Sophia, Olivia, Isabella, Amelia, Leah, Chloe, Luna and Sofia (a newcomer to the list, bumping Esther from the top 10). The top boy names included Noah (also maintaining the number two spot), David, Lucas, Jacob, Ethan, Joseph, Dylan, Michael and Muhammad, with Michael and Muhammed tied.
Outside of the top baby names, New York City parents looked for inspiration in other cities for names, including Cairo (110), Phoenix (133), London (109), Sydney (110), and Milan (116 for girls and 70 for boys). Vintage names also started to make a comeback, with popular options such as Ruth (102), Norah (105), Beatrice (111), Harriet (123), Doris (124), Meredith (124), Graham (137), Bruce (142), and Bernard (145).
Nature names also were prevalent in 2023, with parents naming NYC babies options like Violet (45), Rose (52), Sage (100 for girls and 139 for boys), Pearl (107), Aura (111) and Sapphire (116). Mythical names also came about, with names such as Adonis (76), Amari (78), Ares (125), Atreus (145), Aurora (41), Athena (79), and Iris (87).
Overall, Manhattan saw the highest number of births, with 39,484 total, followed by Brooklyn with 22,297 births, Queens with 20,148, The Bronx with 10,613, and Staten Island with 5,847.
Expectant parents can find resources on the DOHMH’s page here.
