Margaux is more popular than Chardonnay (as a girl's name)

Margaux has become England and Wales’ most popular wine-related baby name, overtaking Chardonnay, whose popularity surged after the ITV drama Footballers’ Wives launched in 2002.

An analysis by the Drinks Business of nearly 40,000 first names registered between 1996 and 2025 found that Margaux topped the list with 922 registrations, all for girls. The French spelling of Margot rose steadily in popularity during the 2010s, reaching a peak of 102 babies in 2024.

Chardonnay ranked second with 631 registrations across six different spellings. Its popularity exploded in 2002, when 79 babies received the name, following the debut of glamour model Chardonnay Lane, played by Susie Amy in Footballers’ Wives. Registrations peaked at 119 in 2003 before falling sharply.

Sherry takes third place with 196 registrations, followed by Shiraz with 69 and Tawny with 50. Other wine-inspired choices included Cristal, Syrah, Tuscany and Petrus.