Theo rises, Vladimír falls: Czechia's most popular baby names for 2023 revealed

The names Jakub and Eliška once again topped the charts as the most popular baby names in the Czech Republic last year, continuing their long-standing dominance.

“Among the first names of boys born in 2023, Jakub was ranked thirteenth in a row,” said Marek Rojíček, chairman of the Czech Statistical Office.

“[The name’s] rise to prominence began in 2011 when it surpassed Jan, the most popular at that time, in popularity. Jan dropped to third place last year, with Matyáš taking second place.”

On the girls’ side, Eliška retained the top spot for the twelfth consecutive year in 2023. "Eliška once again led the girls’ names, and in 2023, the name retained the first place for the twelfth time in a row,” Rojíček noted. "Second place was taken by Victoria, whose popularity has been rising rapidly in recent years.”

The popularity of specific names also varied significantly depending on the size of the municipality. For example, Štěpán ranked 11th in the smallest towns but fell to 14th and 23rd in medium-sized and large cities. Conversely, names like Daniel and Sára were more prevalent in larger urban areas.

Some names also experienced dramatic shifts in popularity between 2022 and 2023. Among boys, Vladimír and Ivan dropped 23 places, while Theo and William climbed 22 places. For girls, Isabela jumped an incredible 52 spots, and Olivia rose 35 places, while Monika and Melanie fell 31.

"These trends demonstrate the evolving preferences of Czech parents when it comes to naming their children," Rojíček concluded. "While classics like Jakub and Eliška remain firmly entrenched, newer names are also gaining ground, particularly in larger urban settings."The names Jakub and Eliška once again topped the charts as the most popular baby names in the Czech Republic last year, continuing their long-standing dominance.

"These trends demonstrate the evolving preferences of Czech parents when it comes to naming their children," Rojíček concluded. "While classics like Jakub and Eliška remain firmly entrenched, newer names are also gaining ground, particularly in larger urban settings."