These are the Most Popular First Names of 2021

What a change at the top! According to the Society for the German Language (GfdS), Emilia and Matteo are the most popular first names of 2021. Both have made it to the top for the first time – creating a surprise in the German baby name ranking.

Emilia and Matteo Take the Lead

The GfdS reports that Emilia has steadily gained popularity over the years. In contrast, Matteo experienced a rapid rise: Two years ago, he wasn't even in the top ten, and now he sits at number one.

• Emilia
• Hannah
• Mia
• Emma
• Sophia
• Mila
• Lina
• Ella
• Lea
• Marie

Matteo Climbs Steeply to the Top

The popularity of Matteo shows that he fits perfectly into the German naming landscape. Many similar names come to mind when thinking of Emilia.

• Matteo
• Noah
• Leon
• Finn
• Elias
• Paul
• Ben
• Luca
• Emil
• Louis

The Name Luca is Particularly Surprising in the Ranking

One name that stands out in the boys' ranking is Luca. Could the Luca app be playing a role? It is suspected that the name has simply gained popularity, which is why it landed in eighth place.

For the analysis, data from 433 cities was used, with two-thirds coming from civil registries and the rest from birth clinics. A total of about 230,000 birth registrations were recorded, which corresponds to around 30 percent of the babies born in Germany.