The South's top baby names for 2010 were also the most popular in New Zealand.
Liam and Sophie were the country's most popular names for newborns last year, the Department of Internal Affairs office of Births, Deaths and Marriages confirmed yesterday.
As reported on Monday, Liam and Sophie were also the most likely to appear in the Otago Daily Times' births column last year.
Internal Affairs figures showed there were 377 Sophies born last year and 374 Liams.
It meant Sophie remained the most popular name for girls and Liam jumped six places to be the most popular for boys.
Sophie has been the most popular girl's name since displacing Ella in 2008.
The top 10 girls' names list was much the same as the 2009 list, and all but Ella, Emily, Emma and Chloe were also in the South's top 10.
Chloe made it to the national top 10 last year while Amelia, the South's fourth-most-popular name, fell three places to 13.
Liam took the top spot from Jack, the South's fourth-most-popular name, which had been the most popular boy's name since 2005.
William, Oliver and Joshua stayed in the top 10, while Daniel dropped to No16.
Lewis rounded off the top 100 list for the boys and Imogen for the girls.
Top NZ names in 2010
1) Liam (374) Sophie 377.
2) James (333) Olivia 335.
3) Oliver (327) Ruby 322.
4) Jack (325) Charlotte 305.
5) William (320) Isabella 286.
6) Joshua (298) Lily 281.
7) Benjamin (286 )Ella 277.
8) Jacob (285) Chloe 262.
9) Samuel (282) Emily 232.
10) Lucas (271) Emma 228
SOURCE: Dept of Internal Affairs
