OLIVER and Olivia topped the chart for baby names in much of Dorset last year, as they did nationally.

Alongside Amelia they were the most popular baby names in Bournemouth, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The second most popular names were James and Sienna, followed by Archie, Arthur, Harry and Jack all in third.

Poole also saw success for the Ollys, with Alfie, Edward, Harry and Jack and Mia all tied as the second most popular name.

The third most popular names were Sienna and Thea.

Christchurch followed the Oliver trend, and Purbeck Olivia, but otherwise Dorset county was less taken with these.

Popular in Christchurch were Alfie, Emily, George, Grace, Harry, Jessica and Teddy, in East Dorset Alice, Isla, Jack, Lily and Noah, in Purbeck George, Harry, Imogen, Joshua, Thomas and Willow.

Meanwhile in North Dorset Ava, Elsie, George and Henry took the top spots.

Nick Stripe, of the ONS, said: "Although Oliver and Olivia remained the most popular baby names in 2017, some fascinating changes took place beneath them.

"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."

In England and Wales, the trend for royal references continued with Harry and George remaining the second and third most popular names respectively since 2016.

Nearly 700,000 babies were born last year in England and Wales and more than 63,000 unique baby names were registered by the ONS.

New entries into the top 100 most popular names included Hunter and Ralph, Hunter for the first time and Ralph for the first time since 1944.

Other new names were Aurora, Bonnie, Edith, Hallie, Lyla and Orla.