Jessica Joins Jack at Top

Jack and Jessica were the most popular names given to babies in England and Wales in 2005, according to National Statistics. Jack has been the top name for baby boys for 11 years while Jessica moves up two places to become the new girls' number one.

Last year's top girls' name, Emily, drops to number two. Sophie moves up one place to number three and Olivia enters the top five for the first time at number four. Chloe (the top girls' name between 1997 and 2003) remains at number five.

Joshua, Thomas and James remain at numbers two, three and four, while Oliver replaces Daniel at number five. Leo is the only new entry in the boys' top 50, leaping 20 places to number 37. Keira was the highest new entry in the girls' top 50, up 13 to number 38. Scarlett has rocketed 25 places to number 47 while Libby is up four to number 48.

Some big movers within the top 50 this year are Ruby (up 16 to number 15) Isabella (up nine to number 25) and Evie (up ten to number 29). Among the boys, Jake is up nine places to number 17. Max rose by seven places to number 29 while Alfie regained popularity this year and jumped six places to number 21. Alex drops out of the boys' top 50 this year, while Anna, Courtney and Abbie are out of favour among the girls.

Bubbling under the top 50 for boys are Noah (up 23 places to number 51) Isaac (up six to number 53) and Lucas (up 18 to number 58). Up-and-coming girls' names are Sienna (up 99 to 68) Ava (up 65 to 84) and Gracie (up 52 to 87). In Wales, the top boys' name remains Joshua ahead of Jack, with Dylan and Rhys in the top ten. Megan tops the girls' list again, with Ffion at number five, Seren at number 12 and Cerys at number 13.

The most popular names in Scotland were Lewis and Sophie, in Northern Ireland they were Jack and Katie, and in Wales they were Joshua and Megan.

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