Jack and Chloe top baby names league

The top names are published by the registrar general

Jack and Chloe have been revealed as the most popular forenames for Scottish babies in the past year.

The results, from the registrar general's office, mean that Jack has topped the boys' table for the second year in a row, while Chloe has proved the most popular girls' name since 1998.

However, neither secured the title of most popular name of the 1990s, with Ryan dominating the top spot for the boys from 1994-98.

Emma was the favourite for girls for a total of six years, from 1990-93 and from 1996-97.

The report also shows changing trends

The top four boys' names for 2000 mirrored the 1999 results with Jack followed by Lewis, Ryan and Cameron.

New entries included Matthew (seventh), Callum (ninth) and Jamie (10th).

For the girls, Amy and Lauren were joint second, with Emma fourth and the only new entry in the top 10 was Hannah (10th).

To coincide with the publication of the millennium figures, the names given to Scotland's children were compared with those given in 1900, 1950 and 1975.

The tables also showed that the popularity of the top names in 1900 was more dominant than in 2000, while changes to the top 10, particularly for girls, have accelerated.

In 1900, the top five boys' and girls' names covered 50% and 38% of all baby boys and girls.

Births registered

The top names, John and Mary, were used for 13% and 12% of the babies respectively.

By comparison, the same proportions were covered by the top five names for each sex in 2000.

The figures also showed that the total number of births registered has fallen from about 131,000 in 1900 to about 53,000 in 2000, while names have changed more in the second half of the 20th century than in the first half.

A separate analysis by the Office for National Statistics covering England and Wales also showed that Jack and Chloe were the most popular names.

Matthew and Chloe were the most popular names in Northern Ireland.

All births have, by law, to be registered, and the records sent in by local registrars to the registrar general.