A new baby name has taken out the top spot for New Zealand families in 2019.
Amelia has overtaken Charlotte as the most popular name given to girls, while Oliver remains the most popular baby name for boys for the seventh year running.
Nikau and Mia are the most popular Māori names, followed by Mikaere and Aria.
While Amelia has been in the top 10 since 2011, Charlotte and Olivia have swapped first and second place many times over that period.
Perhaps the influence of the royals or the McCaws, Charlotte topped the list in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018, and was ranked second most popular this year, while Isla came in third. Noah is the second most popular name for boys and Leo the third.
Nikau remains number one for the most popular Māori boy's name, having topped the list for the past few years. It's the second year Mia has topped the list for girls' names.
Taika and Rawiri enter the top 10 Māori boys' names, and Tui and Ataahua make it into the top 10 Māori girls' names for the first time since records began.
Jeff Montgomery, Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, says the increased popularity of Māori names worldwide was exciting to see.
"Our names are an important part of our identity, our culture, and often, our heritage. People of all different beliefs and cultures recognise that the naming of a child is powerful and significant. It's great to see more Māori names being registered," he says.
For those having a baby in 2020 and beyond, you can register your bay's name on SmartStart, an online tool for new parents.
A total of 18,816 different first names were given to 61,018 babies in 2019. In 2018 there were 13,668 different first names for 59,302 babies.
2019's Top 10 Girl's Names
- Amelia
- Charlotte
- Isla
- Olivia
- Ruby
- Sophie
- Harper
- Mila
- Willow
- Ava
2019's Top 10 Boy's Names
- Oliver
- Noah
- Leo
- Jack
- Lucas
- George
- James
- William
- Thomas
- Charlie
2019's Top 10 Māori Girls' Names:
- Mia
- Aria
- Maia
- Amaia
- Nina
- Manaia
- Kaia
- Aroha
- Tui
- Ataahua
2019's Top 10 Māori Boys' Names
- Nikau
- MIkaere
- Ari
- Manaia
- Mateo
- Te Ariki
- Taika
- Ariki
- Kauri
- Rawiri
