Harry casts spell on parents

Jack and Chloe top the list - again

The spellbinding adventures of Harry Potter have cast his name into the 10 most popular in England and Wales.

The wizard schoolboy, created by JK Rowling, has helped make Harry the sixth most popular boys' name of 2000 - the first time it has appeared in the top 10.

Boys top five

Jack

Thomas

James

Joshua

Daniel

Top of the list are still Jack for boys and Chloe for girls, just as every year since 1996.

Last year 5,328 boys were named Harry, the Office of National Statistics said.

A spokeswoman said: "We can only speculate about Harry's popularity but the only thing we can think of in the past year is Harry Potter."

Girls top five

Chloe

Emily

Megan

Charlotte

Jessica

The Harry Potter books have sold millions around the world, making him one of the best-loved characters of recent years.

In 1999 the name Harry was given to 4,162 newborns, making it the 14th most popular boys' name, one place up on the previous year.

It did not appear on the list at all between 1944 and 1994.

For the fifth year running Jack, Thomas, James, Joshua and Daniel stayed among the top five parents' choices.

And for girls Chloe, Emily and Megan remain firm favourites, followed by Jessica and Lauren.

Daisy, at number 50, saw the greatest rise in popularity last year, soaring up 20 places.

Despite their high profile, there are poor showings for Rocco, Brooklyn and Leo.

But Mia, favoured by Titanic star Kate Winslet, makes number 45 in the girls list, while Dylan, the name chosen by actors Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas for their son, is up nine places to 38.