UBC study: Canadian baby names show rising individuality and cultural diversity (2026)
A UBC analysis (13 Oct 2026) finds Canadian given names have become far more varied, reflecting increased individual expression and cultural diversity. Widely shared names have declined markedly between 1980 and 2025.
A sociological analysis published by UBC on 13 Oct 2026 (republished from The Conversation) documents changing Canadian naming patterns. Alberta registry figures show the shift: in 1980, 39,630 births used 5,445 given names; by 2025, 52,907 births used 14,706 names. The share held by the top 10 names fell from 22.5% to 6.3% for boys (18.5% → 5.2% for girls). The study also highlights rises in non‑Western names (Muhammad ranks 20th), gender‑neutral names (≈8–10% in 2025) and the decline of traditional religious names (Mary <0.1% in Ontario in 2020).
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