According to Retraite Québec, the most popular baby names in Quebec in 2018 were Emma and William.
Here are the province’s top 10 girl names and top 10 boy names of 2018:
Girl Names
- Emma, 612 baby girls
- Alice, 525
- Olivia, 490
- Léa, 473
- Charlie, 450
- Florence, 439
- Charlotte, 437
- Livia, 378
- Zoé, 346
- Béatrice, 331
Boy Names
- William, 739 baby boys
- Logan, 636
- Liam, 629
- Thomas, 601
- Noah, 568
- Jacob, 540
- Léo, 536
- Félix, 496
- Édouard, 488
- Nathan, 483
In the girls’ top 10, Livia (formerly ranked 21st) replaced Rosalie (now ranked 13th).
In the boys’ top 10, Félix (formerly ranked 14th) and Édouard (formerly 13th) replaced Raphael (now ranked 12th) and Alexis (now 13th).
Here are some of the baby names that were bestowed just once in Quebec last year:
| Unique Girl Names | Unique Boy Names |
| Aoss, Bellanie, Cinsmaya, Daphnelia, Eva-Eve, Faylissia, Feberly-Aena, Grey Winter, Himalaya, Imallak, Jiverfa, Kandzy, Kiev, Luthien Valkyrie, Mirberlie-Hendessa, Neebin, Nerlandia, Om Shanti, Orlyvine, Pompinea, Prindarella, Queency, Rymasse, Sarah Believe, Thrinity, Tullaugak, Vireldis, Westerlyn, Yzis, Zulivia | Aliocha, Bienfait, Broxgar, Clovis Ludovic, Derda, Evanel, Flash Wilder, Gavner, Hollywood, Igor Rugwiro, Inukpuk, Jaynox, Jelijah, Kelebriel, Keo-Archibald, Ludwig-Thoddy, Myozion, Nash Yango, Onder, Pasko, Qalingo, Romerick, Seigneur, Smile, Surprise, Taviano, Tommy Gunn, Valois, Villani, Wishley Jason, Yom Tov, Zyan Clyde |
(I usually limit myself to one name per letter, but there was no way I could choose between “Seigneur,” “Smile” and “Surprise” on the boys’ list.)
Possible explanations for some of the above:
- Aliocha Schneider, Canadian actor (born Nicolas Schneider)
- Bien fait, French for “well done”
- Himalaya, the mountain range in Asia (means “abode of snow” in Sanskrit)
- Om Shanti, the salutation/chant (shanti means “peace” in Sanskrit)
- Seigneur, originally a French title referring to a feudal lord
- Tommy Gunn, short for Thompson submachine gun
- Yom Tov, the Jewish greeting (shortened from yamim tovim, “good days,” referring to Jewish holidays)
In 2017, the top two names were the same.
Source: List of Baby Names – Retraite Québec
Image: Adapted from Flag of Quebec (public domain)
