These are the most popular baby names in the Black Country
The most popular baby names across the region have been revealed – with Muhammad now the most favoured boys name in two Black Country boroughs.
Across England and Wales Olivia and Oliver were the two names chosen most often by new parents for the second year running, but in Walsall and Sandwell Muhammed has risen to the top spot for boys names.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the name was given to 44 newborns in Walsall and 45 baby boys in Sandwell last year.
The name of the founder of Islam – sometimes spelled 'Mohammed' – first topped the boys name charts in the West Midlands in 2013.
Both Walsall and Sandwell followed the national trend for girls names, with Olivia proving most popular.
Wolverhampton followed the national trend for boys names, with Leo, Jacob and Noah proving the next most popular. Amelia took first place for baby girls, followed by Olivia and Ava.
George was the number one boys name in Stafford, with Ava taking the top spot for girls names followed by Emily and Ivy.
In Dudley, Muhammad was the second most popular boys name after Oliver, while Olivia saw off Amelia and Poppy in the table for girls names.
Nick Stripe, of the ONS, said: "Although Oliver and Olivia remained the most popular baby names in 2017, some fascinating changes took place beneath them.
"Leo entered the boys' top 10 for the first time, whilst Hunter rocketed into the top 100, also for the first time, reaching number 78.
"Sarah, the most popular name for baby girls throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, dropped out of the top 100 for the first time since our records began in 1904. Brand new entries into the top 100 for girls include the names Aurora and Hallie."
In England and Wales, royal references continue to dominate, with Harry and George remaining the second and third most popular names respectively since 2016.
Amelia was the second most popular name for girls, with Isla moving up to third place.
Nearly 700,000 babies were born last year in England and Wales and over 63,000 unique baby names were registered.
New entries into the top 100 most popular boys' names included Hunter and Ralph, Hunter for the first time and Ralph for the first time since 1944.
There were six new names in the 100 most popular girls' names – Aurora, Orla, Edith, Bonnie, Lyla and Hallie.
