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) |
Alberta
Alberta Provincial Police – New chief of Independent Agency Police Service

Sat Parhar has been appointed as the first chief of the Independent Agency Police Service, marking the next step toward a new municipal policing option.
The appointment of a new chief for the Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS) marks the next step in giving municipalities a new option for local policing and builds on the work already underway for the agency to assume the police-like duties currently carried out by the Alberta Sheriffs. The IAPS will empower municipalities to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing public safety across the province.
Chief Parhar brings more than 25 years of policing experience, including senior roles with the Calgary Police Service, most recently as deputy chief. His frontline policing experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s complex and diverse public safety landscape positions him to lead the agency as it takes shape and begins its work as a new municipal policing option, keeping communities safe.
Once operational, the agency will strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which includes the RCMP, Indigenous policing services and municipal police. It will help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently to meet Alberta’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities.
“Appointing Chief Sat Parhar is a key milestone in Alberta’s plan to give municipalities a real choice in how their communities are kept safe. This is about building a modern police service that reflects the priorities of Albertans, strengthens local decision-making, and ensures every corner of our province, especially rural areas, can count on responsive, effective law enforcement. With his decades of experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s policing landscape, he is the right leader to bring this vision to life.”
“This appointment signifies a significant step forward in our efforts to establish a more robust, community-focused policing model that is better equipped to meet the unique needs of our local residents. Under Chief Parhar’s visionary leadership, we are confident that we will develop a modern, efficient police service that not only enhances public safety but also aligns closely with the priorities and values of Albertans. His experience and commitment are vital in shaping an IAPS that is responsive, transparent, and dedicated to fostering trust and collaboration within the community, ultimately ensuring a safer and more connected society for all.”
Chief Parhar’s immediate priorities will be to hire an executive team and commence organizational planning such as developing key recruitment, training and other operational policies. Chief Parhar’s appointment is the first step of many to establishing the IAPS.
“It’s an honour to take on this role and help shape a modern police service built for Alberta. My focus from day one will be on setting high standards for professionalism, building strong relationships with our partners and ensuring this service reflects the needs and priorities of the communities we serve.”
The Independent Agency Police Service was formally created through regulation following the passing of Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. The agency will operate as an independent Crown corporation, and will be renamed the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, with its head office located in Calgary. The IAPS will be operationally independent from the provincial government with civilian oversight, consistent with all police services in Alberta.
“When it comes to policing, municipalities like ours deserve a choice – especially when the current system leaves us disadvantaged simply because of our size. We look forward to learning more about what that alternative will look like once an Alberta police agency is fully established and the options are clear. For us, this is about fairness, sustainability, and ensuring municipalities have access to policing solutions that reflect both their needs and their realities.”
Quick facts
- The regulation establishes the IAPS Provincial Corporation and its governance structure including board of directors, board of director powers, financial responsibilities and accountabilities.
Related news
- Expanding municipal police service options (April 7, 2024)
Alberta
Pierre Poilievre – Per Capita, Hardisty, Alberta Is the Most Important Little Town In Canada

From Pierre Poilievre
-
Business1 day ago
RFK Jr. says Hep B vaccine is linked to 1,135% higher autism rate
-
Crime2 days ago
National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud
-
Censorship Industrial Complex1 day ago
Global media alliance colluded with foreign nations to crush free speech in America: House report
-
Business13 hours ago
Why it’s time to repeal the oil tanker ban on B.C.’s north coast
-
Alberta8 hours ago
Alberta Provincial Police – New chief of Independent Agency Police Service
-
Health2 days ago
RFK Jr. Unloads Disturbing Vaccine Secrets on Tucker—And Surprises Everyone on Trump
-
Alberta13 hours ago
Pierre Poilievre – Per Capita, Hardisty, Alberta Is the Most Important Little Town In Canada
-
Business1 day ago
Elon Musk slams Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ calls for new political party