Liam and Olivia top the list of Alberta baby names

EDMONTON – Liam managed to hold on to the top spot as the top baby name for boys, but Olivia edged out Emma for girls in a record-setting year for births in Alberta.

Alberta parents welcomed 53,090 babies in 2013 (25,789 girls and 27,301 boys), ahead of 2012’s total of 52,439, and 2011’s total of 50,844.

Alberta’s top names for baby boys in 2013

1. Liam
2. Lucas
3. Ethan
4. Noah
5. Logan
6. Benjamin
7. William
8. Jacob
9. Mason
10. Carter

Alberta’s top names for baby girls in 2013

1. Olivia
2. Emma
3. Emily
4. Sophia
5. Ava
6. Avery
7. Abigail
8. Charlotte
9. Chloe
10. Lily

The fantasy genre seems to have inspired some Alberta parents this past year, and monikers taken from shows like Game of Thrones and movies like Hunger Games were given.

For girls, Arya, Brienne, Catelyn, Daenarys, Osha, Sansa, and Talisa were weclomed to the world. For boys, Tyrion, Theon, Robb, Martell, Jory, and Rayder made their big entrances.

There were also babies named Peeta, Cato, Rue, Primrose, Seneca, and Gale, along with Rohan, Thorin,  Arwen, Hermione, Ginny and Draco.

Also, after 2013, you could meet some young Albertans named Aries, Atlas, Orion, Midas, Adonis or Athena, Artemis, Pandora, Hera, and Persephone, as Greek mythology appeared to influence new parents.

You may also be introduced to sweet, little Amethyst, or charmed by little Stetson, Kindle or Wrangler.

And, if compound names strike your fancy, perhaps these new baby names will fit the bill: Heavendip, Goodluck, Godbless, and Thunderheart were on Alberta’s list for boys; and Godwill and Violetrose made the list for girls.

Finally, the Alberta government says some of the unique names that were chosen for boy babies in 2013 were: Urban, Sir, Logic, and Jixxr. While for girls, the most creative included: Eunique, Diva, Tempest, Siri, and Lava.

The bigger picture: Baby names in Alberta 

Between 2005 and 2012 in Alberta, Liam, Ethan, Jacob and Logan have consistently made the cut for top boys names; while Emma, Olivia and Ava have been among the 10 most popular names for girls.

A couple years ago, Global News combed through the Service Alberta archives to create a searchable feature that lets you see the popularity of your own name over a span of two decades. Check it out below.

INTERACTIVE: From Aaden to Zyrelle, 20 years of Alberta baby names

Canada’s top baby names for 2013 were released in December by magazine Today’s Parent. In the U.S., Sophia and Noah came in at the top of the baby names list in 2013.

You can download the province’s Alberta Baby Names app here.

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