IN A year where people have been watching more TV than usual it seems popular shows on Netflix and the BBC have inspired the most popular names of 2020.

As the year draws to a close BabyCentre have announced the top 100 names for boys and girls with thousands of parents sending their children’s names to the website.

Olivia, a name that has held top spot for the past four years has been replaced by Sophia while Muhammad remains the most popular name for boys.

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It’s clear parents have been inspired by their favourite characters having watched more TV during two national lockdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Tiger has seen a rise in popularity this year inspired by Netflix hit, Tiger King, unsurprisingly for fans of the show, there has also been a drop in how popularity for the names Joe and Carol, the feuding duo from the show.

BBC comedy Normal People, based on the book by Sally Rooney, has gained more fans this year and with it the name Connell made it into the top 100 boys names for the first time.

Heroin of highly-rated HBO and BBC series I May Destroy You, Arabella, has inspired parents this year climbing 30 places to number 57.

The Last Dance was one of the biggest TV hits of 2020. The Netflix documentary followed NBA legend Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls teammates, with particular focus on his final season with the Bulls.

The miniseries may have inspired on of the biggest climbers in the boys names chart this year, climbing 28 places to 54.

Most popular names for boys

South Wales Argus: Top 10 boys names according to BabyCentre. Picture: CanvaTop 10 boys names according to BabyCentre. Picture: Canva

Here is a list of the top 20 names for boys, a full list of the top 100 can be found here.

1. Muhammad

2. Noah

3. Oliver

4. Arthur

5. Leo

6. Freddie

7. George

8. Theo

9. Charlie

10. Jack

11. Harry

12. Oscar

13. Ethan

14. Archie

15. Finley

16. Alfie

17. Joshua

18. Jacob

19. Thomas

20. Isaac

Most popular names for girls

South Wales Argus: Top 10 girls names according to BabyCentre. Picture: CanvaTop 10 girls names according to BabyCentre. Picture: Canva

Here is a list of the top 20 names for girls, a full list of the top 100 can be found here.

1. Sophia

2. Olivia

3. Amelia

4. Lily

5. Isla

6. Ava

7. Mia

8. Aria

9. Freya

10. Isabella

11. Ella

12. Ivy

13. Emily

14. Grace

15. Isabelle

16. Rosie

17. Poppy

18. Evie

19. Charlotte

20. Hannah

Most endagered names 

It's bad news for Kirstys or Jordans who top the list of endagered girls names. Shauna and Shannon have also seen a drop in popularity. 

For the boys, it seams Mitchells and Kierans could be on their way out as they top the list of the most endangered names for boys. Fewer parents are opting for Ross, Brandon and Craig too. 

Sarah Redshaw, UK managing editor for BabyCentre, said: "A global pandemic has had us looking for ways to find optimism, reflected in a rise in positive and heroic names.

"TV really showed its impact when the name Connell made an appearance for the first time after the Normal People hero, played by Paul Mescal, dominated TV chat, along with his chain.

"And with staying in forcibly becoming the new going out we’ve all been turning to social channels to keep us feeling part of a community, reflected in the increasing influence that Insta stars are having on us.

"With tech acting as a lifeline for work, staying in touch with our loved ones and keeping us entertained it remains to be seen whether Zoom, Nintendo or Tik Tok will appear in next year’s list!"