European countries welcomed non-European babies at New Year

Several European hospitals reported first births of 2026 on Jan. 1, including babies named Zaïd in Avignon, Abdullah in Erlangen, and Mustafa in Drogheda.

Several European hospitals reported their first births of 2026 on Jan. 1. Local news outlets noted the names and times of those early births. Some of the names reported are commonly used outside Europe. National outlets also highlighted recent naming trends and citizenship figures in parts of Europe. Noted births: - La Provence reported a baby named Zaïd was born in Avignon around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026. - Nürnberger Nachrichten reported a baby named Abdullah as the first birth of 2026 at Erlangen University Hospital, born at about 1:21 a.m. - The Meath Chronicle reported the first baby at Drogheda's Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was named Mustafa, born to Ifrah Mir, and listed other Jan. 1 births across Ireland including Elliot, Laso (born to Zilan Aziz and Halo Mohammed), Millie, Kash, Leo, Frances, and Anjali (born to Ranjitha Sivakumar). - Austrian outlet Heute reported on Dec. 31, 2025, that about 40 percent of newborns in Vienna did not have an Austrian passport, and that the share has risen by about 20 percentage points over 20 years. - The BBC reported that Muhammad was the top choice for boys' names in England and Wales in 2023, with more than 4,600 registrations. Summary: These reported first births and naming patterns across several European locations illustrate a variety of names and backgrounds among newborns. Undetermined at this time.