CHILDREN christened Oliver or Olivia last year should consider themselves lucky.

The baby names were Swindon’s most popular in 2017, with the town following the national trend. Oliver has been England and Wales’s most popular baby name for the last five years.

Among girls, Ella, Mia and Charlotte also proved a favourite choice for parents. Those bringing boys into the world, went for royal favourites like Harry, George and Charlie.

Ferndale vicar the Rev Barbara Sheppard, curate at All Saints, said she had seen a growth in the popularity of more traditional names: “A number of children I have baptised over the last six months have been to Henry or William. We’ve reverted back to those older names, particularly with the boys.”

Mrs Sheppard, who admitted to a fondness for Robin as a boy’s name and Robyn for girls, said she always made sure parents spelled out their children’s names before the baptism: “Spellings vary considerably. Some of them are quite fascinating. They can be quite inventive.”

Nick Stripe, of the Office for National Statistics, which compiled the naming data, said: "Although Oliver and Olivia remained the most popular baby names in 2017, some fascinating changes took place.

"Leo entered the boys' top 10 for the first time, whilst Hunter rocketed into the top 100, also for the first time, reaching number 78.

"Sarah, the most popular name for baby girls throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, dropped out of the top 100 for the first time since our records began in 1904.

"Brand new entries into the top 100 for girls include the names Aurora and Hallie."

Some of the more inventive names thought-up by Swindon parents included Jenson, Albie and Jaxon.

Harper, the name the Beckham gave to their now seven-year-old daughter, remains a popular Swindon choice. Seven girls born in 2017 were given the name.

Three Auroras were born in Swindon last year, but the town saw few of the more unusual names reported elsewhere..

Politics must have left parents cold. None of the town's 2,840 babies shared the Christian names of Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn or Vince Cable.

In Wiltshire, Harry and Olivia were the most popular baby names, followed by Charlotte, Amelia and Poppy for girls and Oliver, George and William for girls.

What were Swindon's top five girl's names?

1. Olivia - 18 born

2. Ella - 17 born

3. Charlotte - 16 born

4. Mia - 15 born

5. Isla - 13 born

What were Swindon's top five boy's names?

1. Oliver - 29 born

2. George - 22 born

= 3. Charlie - 20 born

= 3. Harry - 20 born

5. Jack - 19 born