Top baby names of 2023 revealed: Harry and Meghan lose popularity amid Royal Family drama – while Holly and Phil also take a plunge
The once trendy baby names ‘Harry’ and ‘Meghan’ have declined in popularity in Britain, according to leading pregnancy and parenting destination, BabyCentre.
‘Crashing down from 13th place to number 23, the previously popular name Harry seems to have had a negative reception from parents this year,’ the site reveals.
‘Meghan and alternate spelling Megan have also dropped in registrations.’
Formerly, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first names saw a huge boost in popularity among new parents. but it seems these names may now have negative connotations amid their ongoing fall out with the Royal Family.
The once trendy baby names ‘Harry’ and ‘Meghan’ have declined in popularity in Britain, according to leading pregnancy and parenting destination, BabyCentre
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in happier times on ITV’s This Morning on February 2
After quitting as senior royals in early 2020, the couple have aired their grievances with Harry’s family in multiple public forums, including their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Last year, the couple released an explosive Netflix series documenting their exit from the Royal Family – holding Prince William and Kate accountable for several fiery disagreements.
Most recently, Harry’s tell-all memoir, Spare, discussed his drug abuse, losing his virginity behind a pub and killing people while in the Armed Forces.
Baby name popularity is heavily influenced by celebrity controversies. And Harry and Meghan aren’t the only couple to see their popularity waning.
Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield have also seen their first names fall out of favour with parents-to-be.
According to BabyCentre, Muhammad continues to reign for boys, while Lily has beaten Sophia to the top spot for girls.
In fact, both names have plummeted down in registrations and are no longer listed in the top 100.
The presenters caused a stir when they jumped the queue at the Queen’s lying-in-state and Philip’s secret relationship with a younger colleague came to light.
Flower names are especially popular with Lily topping the chart at number one, followed by Jasmine, up 28 places to number 67, while the number of Dahlias has doubled.
The BabyCentre statement comes amid reports that the Prince and Princess of Wales have ‘closed their minds’ to the possibility that a rift with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can be fixed12557209.
Jennie Bond, the former BBC royal correspondent, added it was clear that Kate ‘has been hurt and insulted by things that Harry and Meghan have said’.
She described how Prince William and his wife had attempted to heal the rift in the Royal Family at Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021, but after a ‘blazing row’ it became clear it wasn’t possible.
Ms Bond told OK Magazine: ‘There comes a point when you just have to accept that happy families are not a game that everyone can play.
‘Catherine has been hurt and insulted by things that Harry and Meghan have said, but she and William are a very strong team, and I suspect that, together, they’ve come to the conclusion that the rift with Harry cannot be fixed in the foreseeable future.
