Noah has once again topped the list of popular boys’ names in New Zealand, with 250 newborns sharing the name. This marks Noah’s fourth year in the top two. For girls, Isla reclaimed the top spot, after narrowly missing out in 2023, with 190 babies named Isla.
“This is the third time in five years that Isla has been the most popular girls’ name, and Noah continues to dominate,” said Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.
Last year, the Department of Internal Affairs registered 59,199 births and recorded 19,404 unique names.
Regional trends also emerged. Jack was the most popular boy’s name in the South Island, leading in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. In contrast, Noah was more popular in the North Island, topping the charts in Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, and Northland.
For girls, the top names varied by region, with Charlotte, Isla, Amelia, Lily, Harper, Aria, and Ella all earning spots at the top in different areas of the country.
The popularity of political names also stood out. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s first name was chosen by 24 families. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters had fewer than five babies named Winston, while Minister David Seymour’s name was shared by 62 newborns. Minister van Velden noted that 14 baby girls were named Brooke.
Van Velden highlighted the importance of registering a baby’s name early, as it provides the official identity needed to access legal rights as the child grows.
The Department recommends registering newborns within two months of birth. For convenience, the SmartStart platform, hosted by the Department of Internal Affairs, offers a quick and free registration process.
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