New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2024 have been revealed today.
For girls, the top name given to newborns in 2024 was Isla, with 190 babies sharing the name. It marks the third time in five years Isla has topped the list for girls.
Also in the top 10 list for girls were Amelia, Charlotte, Lily, Isabella, Olivia, Hazel, Harper, Mia, and Mila.
For boys, the top name was Noah for the second consecutive year, and the fourth year in a row the name was in the top two.
Oliver, Leo, George, Jack, Luca, Theodore, Elijah, Theo, and Arthur rounded out the top 10 names for boys.
A total of 19,404 unique first names were given to 51,199 babies registered by the Department of Internal Affairs last year.
Minister for Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said there was a “bit of regional difference last year” in regard to names.
Jack was the most popular boy’s name in the South Island, topping the charts in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland.
“Noah, however, led in the North Island, being the top name in Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, and Northland regions. For girls, the most popular names were more varied across regions. Charlotte, Isla, Amelia, Lily, Harper, Aria, and Ella all earned top honours in different parts of the country,” van Velden said.
“Registering your baby in New Zealand is an important first step in ensuring that they have an official identity, allowing them to access their legal rights as they grow up. SmartStart, a platform hosted by the Department of Internal Affairs, is a quick and free way to do this. It also has guidance for families about their children’s first years, including information about what services and assistance may be available to families.”
The Department recommended registering a baby within the first two months of birth.
The SmartStart website has the full list of most popular baby names dating back to 1954. It said the list of top Māori baby names will be revealed around the time of Matariki.
Here’s the top 10 names for boys and girls
Girls
Isla 190
Amelia 183
Charlotte 173
Lily 158
Isabella 155
Olivia 154
Hazel 144
Harper 141
Mia 137
Mila 133
Boys
Noah 250
Oliver 228
Leo 202
George 198
Jack 198
Luca 192
Theodore 189
Elijah 159
Theo 158
Arthur 152
