Julia and Noah are the most popular baby names of 2021, according to the latest list drawn up by social insurance bank SVB.

In 2021, 753 baby girls were named Julia and 945 boys were named after the Biblical flood hero. Noah also topped the boys’ list in 2020, but both Julia and Mila have overtaken Emma in the girls’ popularity stakes.

Utrecht University lecturer Gerrit Bloothooft told broadcaster NOS that today’s children are increasingly being given international names, while short, Old Testament names such as Sem and Sara are also popular.

It takes around 25 years, or at least a generation, to completely renew the top end of the rankings, he said.

The change in name popularity can be seen clearly in the state pension claimant rankings, which the SVB also publishes. There are some 165,000 men called Johannes currently claiming a state pension, with Jan, Cornelis, Hendrik and Willem making up the top five.

Maria is the most common name among female pensioners. Over 210,000 Marias currently get AOW, with Johanna, Anna, Cornelia and Wilhelmina completing the top of the list.

The baby name calculations cover January to the end of November, when 177,473 babies were born – 90,943 boys and 86,530 girls. The SVB bases its ranking on child benefit applications.

Top 10  girls’ names

• 1. Julia
• 2. Mila
• 3. Emma
• 4. Nora
• 5. Olivia
• 6. Sophie
• 7. Tess
• 8. Milou
• 9. Zoë
• 10. Yara

Top 10 boys’ names

• 1. Noah
• 2. Lucas
• 3. Sem
• 4. Daan
• 5. Levi
• 6. Liam
• 7. James
• 8. Finn
• 9. Luca
• Milan

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