The future belongs to Emma

Emma and Louis were the most popular names for newborn babies in Belgium in 2014, according to the latest figures from the government statistical service. This is the twelfth year that Emma has been top choice for girls, while Louis marks a second year as the most popular boy's name.

Things are slightly different if you look at the regions. In Flanders the most popular names were Emma and Lucas, while in Wallonia they were Léa and Hugo and in the Brussels Capital region they were Lina and Adam. The only name to appear in the top ten for all three regions is Emma.

While naming seems to be relatively stable in the short term, the statistical service reveals a much more changeable situation. In the space of 20 years, it says, the number of different names has increased by 62% for girls and 66% for boys. Meanwhile the average number of times the same name is given has fallen by 33% and 34% respectively.

Back in 1995, the most popular girl's names were Laura, Sarah and Julie, all three now outside the top 20. For boys it was Thomas, Nicolas and Kevin. While Thomas remains popular, Nicolas has slipped to 61st and Kevin to 298th place. There were only 40 new Kevins last year.

The name showing the greatest increase in 2014 was Eden, for boys, rising from 60th to 17th place. Belgian football star Eden Hazard may have something to do with this, the statistical service thinks.