Thousands  of parents are naming their babies after Downton Abbey characters, new figures have revealed. The TV show's huge popularity has inspired a resurgence of 1920s fashion and hairstyles, and now the old-fashioned names of its characters are also back in vogue. Edith, Cora, Sybil and Elsie are all soaring in popularity among new parents. Scroll down for video . The popularity of Downton characters like Lady Mary (l) and Lady Edith is being reflected in baby names . The first name of the Countess of Grantham, Cora, is soaring in popularity among new parents . But when the show began in 2010, the monikers were in danger of dwindling into obscurity. It is now just finished its fifth season running on Sunday night attracting around eight million viewers per episode. Violet, the first name of the matriarchal Dowager Countess of Grantham played by Dame Maggie Smith, has seen a particularly large comeback after it made the top 100 girls' names for 2013. Spiralling from 466 girls in 2010 to 709 last year, it has jumped in the national rankings from 123rd to 78th. And highest of all was Elsie, the Christian name of housekeeper Mrs Hughes, which has rocketed into the thousands in just five years. Nearly 1,200 babies took the name last year compared to 535 in 2010. Violet, the first name of the matriarchal Dowager Countess of Grantham played by Dame Maggie Smith, has seen a particularly large comeback after it made the top 100 girls' names for 2013 . Parenting expert Dr Fin Williams, who founded the group Parent Perspectives based in Devon, was unsurprised by the trend. She said: 'We pick up our preferences for names based on who we are surrounded by but also our experiences of TV characters who have that name. 'We are less likely to name our children after someone who we feel hasn't got a very nice character, and more likely to name them after somebody we aspire to.' Judy Reith, parenting coach and founder of parentingpeople.co.uk, said: 'I think parents have always been interested in fashion and sometimes fashion is led by television programmes and celebrities, especially in the current age. Downton has just finished its fifth season, attracting around 8 million viewers per episode . 'I'm not surprised that Downton Abbey is having an influence, and I'm sure the the royal baby will also have an influence next year.' Cora, the warm-hearted countess of Grantham, and Sybil, her pretty and modest daughter, are among the names that have rocketed. The figures, released by the Office of National Statistics, show a 55 per cent increase in the number of girls called Cora in England and Wales, while there are now treble the number of Sybils than there were in 2010. The name Mary - the lead character of the show played by Michelle Dockery - has bucked the trend with a slight decline - just 203 girls were given the name in 2013, compared to 237 in 2010. The top names for 2013 were Oliver and Amelia, followed by Olivia, Emily, Ava and Isla, and Jack, Harry, Jacob and Charlie.
When the TV show began, the monikers were  dwindling into obscurity .
Violet, the matriarchal Countess, has now re entered top 100 girls' names .
Edith, Cora, Sybil and Elsie are soaring in popularity among new parents .
Thousands  of parents are naming their babies after Downton Abbey characters, new figures have revealed. The TV show's huge popularity has inspired a resurgence of 1920s fashion and hairstyles, and now the old-fashioned names of its characters are also back in vogue. Edith, Cora, Sybil and Elsie are all soaring in popularity among new parents. Scroll down for video . The popularity of Downton characters like Lady Mary (l) and Lady Edith is being reflected in baby names . The first name of the Countess of Grantham, Cora, is soaring in popularity among new parents . But when the show began in 2010, the monikers were in danger of dwindling into obscurity. It is now just finished its fifth season running on Sunday night attracting around eight million viewers per episode. Violet, the first name of the matriarchal Dowager Countess of Grantham played by Dame Maggie Smith, has seen a particularly large comeback after it made the top 100 girls' names for 2013. Spiralling from 466 girls in 2010 to 709 last year, it has jumped in the national rankings from 123rd to 78th. And highest of all was Elsie, the Christian name of housekeeper Mrs Hughes, which has rocketed into the thousands in just five years. Nearly 1,200 babies took the name last year compared to 535 in 2010. Violet, the first name of the matriarchal Dowager Countess of Grantham played by Dame Maggie Smith, has seen a particularly large comeback after it made the top 100 girls' names for 2013 . Parenting expert Dr Fin Williams, who founded the group Parent Perspectives based in Devon, was unsurprised by the trend. She said: 'We pick up our preferences for names based on who we are surrounded by but also our experiences of TV characters who have that name. 'We are less likely to name our children after someone who we feel hasn't got a very nice character, and more likely to name them after somebody we aspire to.' Judy Reith, parenting coach and founder of parentingpeople.co.uk, said: 'I think parents have always been interested in fashion and sometimes fashion is led by television programmes and celebrities, especially in the current age. Downton has just finished its fifth season, attracting around 8 million viewers per episode . 'I'm not surprised that Downton Abbey is having an influence, and I'm sure the the royal baby will also have an influence next year.' Cora, the warm-hearted countess of Grantham, and Sybil, her pretty and modest daughter, are among the names that have rocketed. The figures, released by the Office of National Statistics, show a 55 per cent increase in the number of girls called Cora in England and Wales, while there are now treble the number of Sybils than there were in 2010. The name Mary - the lead character of the show played by Michelle Dockery - has bucked the trend with a slight decline - just 203 girls were given the name in 2013, compared to 237 in 2010. The top names for 2013 were Oliver and Amelia, followed by Olivia, Emily, Ava and Isla, and Jack, Harry, Jacob and Charlie.
Cora, Sybil and Elsie are all soaring in Grantham, Cora, is soaring in popularity among new parents . But when the show began in 2010, the monikers were in danger of dwindling into 2010. Violet, the first name of the matriarchal comeback after it made the top 100 girls' names