Noah tops Dutch baby name rankings for sixth year, Emma is number one for girls in 2024
Noah and Emma have emerged as the most popular baby names in the Netherlands for 2024, according to the latest data from the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB).
Noah retained its position as the most common boys’ name for the sixth consecutive year, given to 922 newborn boys in 2024. Among girls, Emma climbed from fourth place in 2023 to take the top spot, with 657 girls receiving the name.
In total, 165,594 babies were born in the Netherlands through November 2024, including 84,990 boys and 80,604 girls.
Noah continued its dominance among boys’ names, with 34 more babies receiving the name compared to 2023. Luca remained in second place, given to 755 boys, while Lucas secured third place, unchanged from the previous year. Mees, which ranked eighth in 2023, climbed to sixth, and Adam entered the top 10 for the first time, securing the tenth spot.
For girls, Emma surpassed its 2023 performance by 61 additional uses, replacing Olivia as the top name. Olivia remained in second place, given to 634 girls, and Nora rose from sixth place to third, with 614 girls receiving the name. Other notable names included Mila, Noor, and Yara, which remained consistent favorites.
Regional differences in name popularity
The SVB data highlighted regional differences in name popularity. For example, Noud and Emma were most popular in Groningen, while Hidde and Lieke topped the list in Friesland. In Noord-Brabant, Noah and Emma were the leading names, while Liam and Maria were the favorites in Zeeland. Large cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam displayed distinct trends due to their diverse populations.
According to Gerrit Bloothooft, a name expert at Utrecht University, urban centers like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague reveal unique naming patterns. "In Amsterdam and Den Haag, Adam is the top name for boys, while Mohammed is most popular in Rotterdam," said Bloothooft. Variants of Mohammed, such as Mohamed and Muhammad, also rank highly in major cities due to cultural preferences among Islamic families.
For girls, Olivia was the leading name in Amsterdam and Den Haag, while Inaya was most common in Rotterdam, and Noor in Utrecht. Names ending in "-a," such as Maya, Aya, and Lina, continued to trend in urban areas.
