NYC Baby Names 2023: Luca & Mia Lead the Charts

NYC’s Latest Baby‑Name Trends: A Quick Look at the City’s Top Picks
The Patch article “Here Are the New Top Baby Names in NYC (See Full List)” dives into the most popular first names for babies born in New York City during the most recent reporting period. Drawing on data compiled by the Office of the City Register and released through the NYC Open Data portal, the piece offers a snapshot of the city’s diverse cultural tapestry and the evolving preferences of parents across boroughs. Below, we break down the article’s key points, highlight the top names by gender, and explore the broader trends that shape New York’s naming landscape.
1. How the Data Are Collected
The article explains that the list is generated from the City of New York’s official birth‑registration records. Every newborn’s name is entered into a central database at the time of registration, and the data are anonymized before being published. The “top names” chart reflects the frequency of each name across all 12 boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the five newer boroughs).
The Patch story links directly to the NYC Birth Names dataset on the city’s open‑data portal (https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Health/NYC-Birth-Names/xxxx). Readers can sort the data by year, borough, or gender, making it possible to dive deeper into neighborhood‑level trends.
2. The Top 10 Names for Boys
The article lists the most common first names for boys born in the city in the most recent year. While the exact numbers change year‑to‑year, the 2023 list (which the article references) is as follows:
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Luca |
| 2 | Jasper |
| 3 | Ethan |
| 4 | Mason |
| 5 | Aiden |
| 6 | Caleb |
| 7 | Oliver |
| 8 | Leo |
| 9 | Sebastian |
| 10 | Jayden |
The article notes that “Luca” topped the list for the first time, marking a shift from the previous years’ favorites such as “Noah” and “Oliver.” The surge in Luca’s popularity reflects a broader trend toward Italian‑derived names that resonate with New York’s sizable Italian‑American community and the city’s romantic association with the Italian diaspora.
3. The Top 10 Names for Girls
For girls, the most frequent names are:
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mia |
| 2 | Luna |
| 3 | Emma |
| 4 | Ava |
| 5 | Olivia |
| 6 | Isabella |
| 7 | Sofia |
| 8 | Zoe |
| 9 | Hazel |
| 10 | Amelia |
“Mia” led the chart for the second year in a row, reinforcing the popularity of concise, Italian‑influenced names. The article highlights that “Luna” saw a sharp rise in the last six months, possibly due to the renewed appeal of celestial and nature‑based names among urban parents.
4. Trends Beyond the Top Ten
A Rise in Non‑Traditional Names
The article points out that, beyond the top ten, the list includes several names that traditionally wouldn’t have appeared in the “top 100.” Names such as "Arielle," "Rohan," and "Juniper" appear multiple times. This signals a broader shift toward more distinctive, sometimes gender‑neutral options.
The Persistence of Classic Choices
Despite the influx of fresh names, classics like "William," "Benjamin," and "Charlotte" still appear in the broader list, showing that parents still value established names. The article quotes a local registrar who says, “We’re seeing a mix of innovation and nostalgia; the city’s name landscape is surprisingly balanced.”
Cultural Representation
The piece also highlights the importance of cultural representation. For example, “Ayanda” (Zulu) and “Khadija” (Arabic) made it into the top 50, reflecting the city’s growing diversity. The article includes a link to a separate study on name diversity in NYC (https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Health/NYC-Name-Diversity/xxxx).
5. How New York’s Names Compare Nationally
While NYC’s names reflect its global city character, the article contrasts them with the most popular names across the United States. “Luca,” for instance, was only in the top 50 nationally, whereas “Noah” still dominated the countrywide list. This underscores that local preferences can diverge significantly from national trends.
The article links to the U.S. Social Security Administration’s (SSA) baby‑name database, allowing readers to compare the city’s list with the national data (https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/). By overlaying the two datasets, you can see which names are uniquely favored in New York and which trends align with the broader American landscape.
6. How to View the Full List
The Patch article includes a clickable “See Full List” link that opens a searchable table of all names and their frequencies. This resource is especially useful for researchers, genealogists, or parents interested in less common names. The full dataset can also be downloaded as a CSV file from the NYC Open Data portal.
7. Bottom Line
- Luca and Mia lead the city’s charts, indicating a preference for short, Italian‑derived names.
- Non‑traditional, gender‑neutral, and culturally diverse names are gaining traction.
- Classic names remain a steady presence, and the city’s list diverges from national trends in noticeable ways.
- The data are publicly available and can be explored further via NYC’s open‑data portal or the SSA database.
For anyone curious about New York’s baby‑name climate, the Patch article provides a concise, data‑driven overview. Whether you’re a statistician, a parent, or just an admirer of the city’s melting‑pot culture, the names tell a story about who lives here and how their identities are expressed right from the start.
Read the Full Patch Article at:
[ https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/here-are-new-top-baby-names-nyc-see-full-list ]