The classic baby name making a comeback as Wuthering Heights hits cinemas

We're obsessed with this name

Choosing a more “vintage” name can also mean avoiding strong associations within your own peer group. As baby naming consultant SJ Strum previously told Yahoo UK, opting for an older name allows parents to embrace something familiar yet refreshingly distinctive.

So, it makes sense that 'vintage' names are gaining popularity.

Ivy, Florence, and Elsie, names that were deemed old-fashioned a few years back, are now among the top 10 most popular names for girls in the charts in England and Wales. For boys, Arthur, George, and Archie are among the top picks.

However, one old-fashioned name in particular is soaring in popularity, and it just so happens to belong to one of the biggest movie stars of the moment. Margot Robbie’s first name is proving almost as popular as the actress herself, following her starring role in the upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation and her turn as the titular character in Barbie in 2023.

‘Margot’ has been steadily climbing the charts in England and Wales since around 2013, when it was given to just 55 newborns and ranked the 725th most popular girls’ name.

Fast forward to 2024, the latest year for which figures are available, and the name has risen to 28th place, with 1,243 baby girls given the name.

Margot is a diminutive of Marguerite and the French form of Margaret, and also has ties to the Greek word margarites, meaning 'pearl', per The Bump.

However, Margot isn’t the only Wuthering Heights-inspired name catching our eye. Here are a few of our other favourites:

Emily

The new Wuthering Heights film is a modern adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 classic novel. Interestingly, Emily is also a popular choice for baby girls in England and Wales, ranking 34th. The name is of Latin origin and carries the meaning 'rival', per Nameberry.

Catherine

Although Catherine isn’t particularly common today, given to just 66 newborns in 2024, Margot Robbie’s character, Catherine “Cathy” Earnshaw, whose name means “pure,” still manages to capture our attention.

Jacob

It’s no surprise that Jacob Elordi is one of the most-watched celebrities right now. The name Jacob, ranking 30th for boys in England and Wales, means “supplanter” and is derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov, making it a classic we can’t help but love.

Heath

Although no babies were named Heathcliff in 2024 according to the Office for National Statistics, the shorter version, Heath, was given to 51 baby boys.

With its connection to the passionate and intense romantic hero, it’s easy to see why this strong name continues to appeal.