The UK’s most popular Christmas baby names

The UK’s most popular Christmas baby names – is yours one of them? (Image: Getty)Many parents are expecting by the time it rolls around to the holiday season, and others just love the festive time of year. Either way, baby names that scream Christmas spirit are popular all year round. Funky Pigeon has revealed the most popular Christmassy names for baby boys and girls in the UK, going by newborns in 2021.Funky Pigeon’s data shows the 15 most popular girl, boy and non-binary names inspired by the Christmas period.Ivy was found to be the most popular festive name last year by far, with 2245 baby girls being given that name.Some 750 baby girls were named Bella, and 558 were named Holly, with Anna the fourth most popular Christmassy name.Jovie was the 14th most popular Christmas-inspired girls’ name, with 20 new babies, rising by a huge 122 percent compared to 2020.READ MORE: M&S announces festive menu available for order now Ivy was the most popular Christmas inspired girls’ name in 2021 (Image: Getty)1. Ivy, 2,245: One of the two plants mentioned in the Christmas carol, the Holly and the Ivy.2. Bella, 730: Bella is a nod to Christmas bells.3. Holly, 568: Holly was the original Christmas tree before the pine was introduced. It is also dubbed ‘The Crown’ in the Christmas carol, the Holly and the Ivy.4. Anna, 545: The name of one of the main characters in the winter Disney hit, Frozen and Frozen II.5. Gabriella, 354: The feminine form of the name Gabriel, the name of the angel sent to tell Mary she was pregnant with the son of Christ.6. Eve, 281: Such as Christmas eve, it also has a wintery feel due to evenings being longer throughout winter.7. Mary, 148: The name of the mother of Christ.8. Belle, 147: Another nod to Christmas bells.9. Gloria, 70: From ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ (Latin for ‘Glory to God in the highest’) which a Christian hymn often sung at Christmas.10. Elsa, 69: The name of one of the main characters in the winter Disney hit, Frozen and Frozen II.11. Angelina, 44: A diminutive of the name Angela, meaning ‘Messenger of God’.12. Noelle, 37: Feminine form of Noel or Noël meaning ‘of or born on Christmas.’13. Star, 23: The wise men followed the North Star to reach the birthplace of Jesus.14. Jovie, 20: The name of Buddy’s love interest in the 2003 film Elf, played by Zooey Dechannel. This name has increased in popularity by 122 percent compared to 2020.15. Snow, 11: Without snow there would be no White Christmas, this unique name is perfect for someone that wants something a little different for their winter baby.DON’T MISS…Prince William will sign ‘new business deal’ – claims [ASTROLOGY]Woman completely transformed by ‘magic’ facial tweakment – pictures [REAL LIFE]Ditch common ‘fashion disaster’ shoes which age you [EXPERT] Olaf was the 14th most popular Christmas inspired boy’s name in 2021 (Image: Getty) Kate has ‘special’ relationship with King Charles 1. Jack, 2,847: Jack Skellington and Jack Frost share the name.2. Joseph, 1,307: The husband of the virgin Mary, mother of Christ.3. Gabriel, 749: The name of the angel sent to tell Mary she is pregnant with Christ.4. Luke, 496: The Gospel of Luke contains the birth of Christ and therefore Christmas.5. Nicholas, 321: As a tribute to St Nicholas (Santa Claus).6. Kevin, 285: Lead character in the popular Christmas movie Home Alone.7. Frank, 285: Frank is a tribute to Frankincense, one of the gifts given by the Wise Men.8. Christian, 190: Christian as Christmas is a Christian holiday.9. Emmanuel, 125: Emmanuel is one of the names of Jesus Christ in the Bible.10. Timothy, 113: The Character Tiny Tim plays a key part of Scrooge’s redemption in A Christmas Carol.11. Buddy, 107: The name of the protagonist in the 2003 Christmas film Elf.12. Noel, 75: Noel or Noël is derived from the Old French word, ‘nael,’ meaning ‘of or born on Christmas.’13. Clark, 45: From the National Lampoon’s Christmas protagonist Clark Griswold.14. Olaf, 27: The name of the snowman sidekick in the wintery Disney hit, Frozen and Frozen II. Olaf even got his own Christmas Disney short in 2017.15. Clement,17: Author of 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (commonly called The Night Before Christmas), Clement Clarke.16. Ebenezer, 14: First name of the Christmas grump turned hero Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. Robin was the second most popular Christmassy unisex name in 2021 (Image: Getty)As for unisex Christmas-inspired names, these were also aplenty in 2021.Marley was the most popular festive unisex name, with 577 new babies being given it.Two religious names made the top six, with Faith and Heaven both popular new names at 290 and 22 babies.Robin, 572, and Winter, 189, both spoke to the chilly weather we associate with Christmas – certainly in the UK.Six Christmassy unisex names in 20211. Marley, 577: Surname of Scrooge’s old business partner Robert Marley who for-warns of the spirits visiting in A Christmas Carol.2. Robin, 572: Robins, the birds, are often seen in the winter months and because of this have become associated with Christmas.3. Faith, 290: Christmas is a religious holiday and therefore faith is very relevant.4. Winter, 189: An obvious link but Christmas takes place in Winter.5. Joy, 85: Epitomises everything that Christmas is about, Joy.6. Heaven, 22: Linked to angels and God which both hold relevance during the Christmas season.