The first name Andrew has declined to its lowest recorded level of popularity in England and Wales, according to the latest data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the past year, only 127 newborn boys were given the name Andrew, placing it at 334th in the rankings. This marks a significant drop from 1996, when the name was ranked 29th with 2,676 babies named Andrew.

The decline in the name’s popularity has coincided with increased public scrutiny of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, who was stripped of his titles amid controversy over his associations with Jeffrey Epstein. While the reasons behind parents’ naming choices are multifaceted, some observers have linked the sharp decrease in the use of Andrew to the negative publicity surrounding the royal figure.

The ONS data, which tracks naming trends annually, also highlights shifts in other popular names. For boys, Muhammad remained the most popular name for the third consecutive year, with 5,957 births. Other frequently chosen names for boys included Noah and Leo. On the girls’ side, Olivia continued to lead as the top name for the tenth year running. Newcomers to the top 100 girls’ names included Eliana, Gracie, Anaya, Alba, Marnie, Lilah, and Frankie.

The data also indicate disappearing or low-frequency names, with Keir losing all recorded popularity in the last year, while Nigel maintained a modest but steady presence.

Experts note that naming trends often reflect broader cultural and social influences, including changing public figures, media attention, and evolving tastes. The case of Andrew illustrates how public perception may impact the desirability of certain names over time.