Alberta
Olivia and Noah most popular baby names in 2021
Olivia is once again the most popular baby girl’s name in Alberta, tying the record for the longest any name has spent at No. 1, while Noah held onto the top spot for baby boys.
There were 49,938 babies born in Alberta in 2021 – 25,714 boys, 24,219 girls and five genders not stated in the initial registration. Olivia maintained a record-setting popularity streak for girls’ names, topping the list every year since 2013. Noah placed first among baby boy names for the third consecutive year.
Charlotte, Ava, Emma and Amelia were among the top five most popular names for baby girls, while Jack, Oliver, Liam and Theodore ranked high among name choices for baby boys.
“I want to congratulate everyone who welcomed a new addition to their family in 2021. After a challenging couple of years, the birth of a baby is something we can all celebrate. The future is bright for Alberta families, as parents are now benefiting from our made-in-Alberta child-care agreement with the federal government that reduces fees for parents of children who are newborn to kindergarten age by an average of half this year, and an average of $10 per day in 2026. We look forward to watching these children grow up and seeing how they shape the future of our province.”
In 2021, Alberta’s baby names reflected parents’ creativity, with names like Archangel, Chickadee, Tuba and Jocko appearing on the list. Other names appear to be inspired by popular fictional characters (Mads, Jedi, Anakin, Hobbes, Furious), vehicles (Audi, Benz, Royce, Chevy, Mercedes), locations (Monaco, Scotland, Denver, Brisbane, Nairobi) and music (Zeppelin, Jagger, Jethro).
Quick facts
- Notable changes to the 2021 lists:
- Evelyn appears in the top 10 list for girls for the first time, after placing 12th in 2020.
- Henry appears in the top 10 list for boys for the first time, after placing 11th in 2020.
- Chloe and Aria both reappear in the girls’ top 10 list for the first time since 2017; they tied for ninth place that year.
- Emily dropped to 14th place among the most popular girls’ names, after appearing in the top 10 list every year since 1993.
- Ethan, which until this year held the record as being No. 1 for the longest period, has moved back into the top 10 list of popular boys’ names, after dropping to 12th place in 2020.
- Maverick has increased in popularity on the boys’ names list over the last five years, steadily moving up from 45th most popular in 2017 to 13th most popular in 2021.
- Historically, girls’ names that held the No. 1 spot for the longest consecutive time period include:
- Jessica: six years (1990-1995)
- Emily: five years (1998-2002)
- Olivia: nine years (2013-2021)
- Historically, boys’ names that held the No. 1 spot for the longest consecutive time period include:
- Matthew: five years (1995-1999)
- Ethan: nine years (2001-2009)
- Liam: seven years (2010-2016)
- Parents have up to one year to register their child’s birth. As a result, the list of 2021 baby names and birth statistics may change slightly.
Boys’ names and frequency – top 10
(In brackets is the number of babies with each name)
| Place | Boy Names (2021) | Boy Names (2020) | Boy Names (2019) | Boy Names (2018) | Boy Names (2017) |
| 1 | Noah (274) | Noah (239) | Noah (275) | Liam (225) | Noah (250) |
| 2 | Jack (219) | Oliver (229) | Liam (234) | Oliver (212) | Liam (244) |
| 3 | Oliver (208) | Liam (206) | Oliver (225) | Noah (199) | Benjamin (229) |
| 4 | Liam (197) | Benjamin (182) | Ethan (213) | Ethan (188) | Logan (226) |
| 5 | Theodore (191) | William (178) | Jack (198) | Logan (182)
Lucas (182) |
Lucas (216) |
| 6 | William (174) | Jack (169) | William (185) | Jacob (181) | William (213) |
| 7 | Ethan (162) | Lucas (163) | Lucas (174) | William (178) | Ethan (192) |
| 8 | Levi (148) | Theodore (159) | Owen (167) | Benjamin (176) | Oliver (190) |
| 9 | Benjamin (147) | Levi (153) | Benjamin (163) | Jack (167) | Jack (189) |
| 10 | Henry (146) | Owen (152) | Jacob (162) | Alexander (158)
James (158) |
Jacob (178) |
Girls’ names and frequency – top 10
(In brackets is the number of babies with each name)
| Place | Girl Names (2021) | Girl Names (2020) | Girl Names (2019) | Girl Names (2018) | Girl Names (2017) |
| 1 | Olivia (210) | Olivia (236) | Olivia (229) | Olivia (235) | Olivia (236) |
| 2 | Charlotte (166) | Emma (184) | Charlotte (188) | Emma (230) | Emma (215) |
| 3 | Ava (165) | Charlotte (161) | Sophia (181) | Charlotte (175) | Charlotte (187) |
| 4 | Emma (163) | Ava (159) | Emma (178) | Emily (164) | Ava (184)
Sophia (184) |
| 5 | Amelia (160) | Sophia (151) | Ava (161) | Ava (161) | Emily (159) |
| 6 | Sophia (137) | Amelia (145) | Amelia (159) | Abigail (153) | Abigail (154) |
| 7 | Isla (135) | Isla (133) | Emily (150) | Harper (150) | Amelia (149) |
| 8 | Abigail (120) | Emily (127) | Abigail (141) | Sophia (146) | Isabella (141) |
| 9 | Evelyn (119)
Chloe (119) |
Lily (123) | Hannah (137) | Amelia (145) | Aria (129)
Chloe (129) |
| 10 | Aria (112) | Abigail (114) | Elizabeth (124) | Elizabeth (130) | Lily (127) |
From the Fraser Institute
By Tegan Hill
According to the recent mid-year update tabled Thursday, the Smith government projects a $4.6 billion surplus in 2024/25, up from the $2.9 billion surplus projected just a few months ago. Despite the good news, Premier Smith must reduce spending to avoid budget deficits.
The fiscal update projects resource revenue of $20.3 billion in 2024/25. Today’s relatively high—but very volatile—resource revenue (including oil and gas royalties) is helping finance today’s spending and maintain a balanced budget. But it will not last forever.
For perspective, in just the last decade the Alberta government’s annual resource revenue has been as low as $2.8 billion (2015/16) and as high as $25.2 billion (2022/23).
And while the resource revenue rollercoaster is currently in Alberta’s favor, Finance Minister Nate Horner acknowledges that “risks are on the rise” as oil prices have dropped considerably and forecasters are projecting downward pressure on prices—all of which impacts resource revenue.
In fact, the government’s own estimates show a $1 change in oil prices results in an estimated $630 million revenue swing. So while the Smith government plans to maintain a surplus in 2024/25, a small change in oil prices could quickly plunge Alberta back into deficit. Premier Smith has warned that her government may fall into a budget deficit this fiscal year.
This should come as no surprise. Alberta’s been on the resource revenue rollercoaster for decades. Successive governments have increased spending during the good times of high resource revenue, but failed to rein in spending when resource revenues fell.
Previous research has shown that, in Alberta, a $1 increase in resource revenue is associated with an estimated 56-cent increase in program spending the following fiscal year (on a per-person, inflation-adjusted basis). However, a decline in resource revenue is not similarly associated with a reduction in program spending. This pattern has led to historically high levels of government spending—and budget deficits—even in more recent years.
Consider this: If this fiscal year the Smith government received an average level of resource revenue (based on levels over the last 10 years), it would receive approximately $13,000 per Albertan. Yet the government plans to spend nearly $15,000 per Albertan this fiscal year (after adjusting for inflation). That’s a huge gap of roughly $2,000—and it means the government is continuing to take big risks with the provincial budget.
Of course, if the government falls back into deficit there are implications for everyday Albertans.
When the government runs a deficit, it accumulates debt, which Albertans must pay to service. In 2024/25, the government’s debt interest payments will cost each Albertan nearly $650. That’s largely because, despite running surpluses over the last few years, Albertans are still paying for debt accumulated during the most recent string of deficits from 2008/09 to 2020/21 (excluding 2014/15), which only ended when the government enjoyed an unexpected windfall in resource revenue in 2021/22.
According to Thursday’s mid-year fiscal update, Alberta’s finances continue to be at risk. To avoid deficits, the Smith government should meaningfully reduce spending so that it’s aligned with more reliable, stable levels of revenue.
Author:
Better, faster, more affordable auto insurance
Alberta’s government is introducing a new auto insurance system that will provide better and faster services to Albertans while reducing auto insurance premiums.
After hearing from more than 16,000 Albertans through an online survey about their priorities for auto insurance policies, Alberta’s government is introducing a new privately delivered, care-focused auto insurance system.
Right now, insurance in the province is not affordable or care focused. Despite high premiums, Albertans injured in collisions do not get the timely medical care and income support they need in a system that is complex to navigate. When fully implemented, Alberta’s new auto insurance system will deliver better and faster care for those involved in collisions, and Albertans will see cost savings up to $400 per year.
“Albertans have been clear they need an auto insurance system that provides better, faster care and is more affordable. When it’s implemented, our new privately delivered, care-centred insurance system will put the focus on Albertans’ recovery, providing more effective support and will deliver lower rates.”
“High auto insurance rates put strain on Albertans. By shifting to a system that offers improved benefits and support, we are providing better and faster care to Albertans, with lower costs.”
Albertans who suffer injuries due to a collision currently wait months for a simple claim to be resolved and can wait years for claims related to more serious and life-changing injuries to addressed. Additionally, the medical and financial benefits they receive often expire before they’re fully recovered.
Under the new system, Albertans who suffer catastrophic injuries will receive treatment and care for the rest of their lives. Those who sustain serious injuries will receive treatment until they are fully recovered. These changes mirror and build upon the Saskatchewan insurance model, where at-fault drivers can be sued for pain and suffering damages if they are convicted of a criminal offence, such as impaired driving or dangerous driving, or conviction of certain offenses under the Traffic Safety Act.
Work on this new auto insurance system will require legislation in the spring of 2025. In order to reconfigure auto insurance policies for 3.4 million Albertans, auto insurance companies need time to create and implement the new system. Alberta’s government expects the new system to be fully implemented by January 2027.
In the interim, starting in January 2025, the good driver rate cap will be adjusted to a 7.5% increase due to high legal costs, increasing vehicle damage repair costs and natural disaster costs. This protects good drivers from significant rate increases while ensuring that auto insurance providers remain financially viable in Alberta.
Albertans have been clear that they still want premiums to be based on risk. Bad drivers will continue to pay higher premiums than good drivers.
By providing significantly enhanced medical, rehabilitation and income support benefits, this system supports Albertans injured in collisions while reducing the impact of litigation costs on the amount that Albertans pay for their insurance.
“Keeping more money in Albertans’ pockets is one of the best ways to address the rising cost of living. This shift to a care-first automobile insurance system will do just that by helping lower premiums for people across the province.”
Quick facts
- Alberta’s government commissioned two auto insurance reports, which showed that legal fees and litigation costs tied to the province’s current system significantly increase premiums.
- A 2023 report by MNP shows
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