Only 40 Newborns Named Jānis This Year, and Six Girls Named Līga
In the first half of 2025, only 40 boys in Latvia were named Jānis and six girls were named Līga. The popularity of the name Jānis has declined significantly over the years, while the number of Līgas has remained relatively stable.
/nginx/o/2026/06/23/17738098t1h1479.jpg)
As Midsummer approaches, Latvian statistics reveal a continued decline in the popularity of the name Jānis among newborns. This year, only 40 boys have been given the name Jānis, while six girls have been named Līga. On June 23, 9,525 women named Līga will celebrate their name day – 54 fewer than in the previous year.
Data from the LETA archive shows a clear trend: in 2004, Latvia had 67,244 Jānis and 10,672 Līgas; in 2009, the numbers were 61,758 and 10,806, respectively. Over the following years, the count of Jānis gradually decreased – to 57,235 in 2013, 51,549 in 2018, 48,311 in 2021, and 47,185 in 2022. By 2024, there were 44,994 Jānis, and in 2025, 44,093. The number of Līgas fluctuated around 10,000 during this period, reaching 9,579 last year.
Overall, Jānis remains one of the most common names in Latvia, but it is chosen for newborns less and less frequently. The number of Līgas, though slightly fluctuating, has remained relatively stable.
/nginx/o/2026/06/11/17706613t1hc530.jpg)
