Revealed: Most popular baby names in 2021

Photo: File / Getty Images
Photo: File / Getty Images
The most popular baby names in New Zealand during 2021 have been revealed.

After two years at second place, Charlotte is back at the top of the list of the most popular baby names for girls in 2021. Oliver once again leads the list for boys, having held the spot since 2013.

Manaia comes in as the most evenly-split gender-neutral name, with a 50/50 split for boys and girls, with Quinn sitting just below the top of the list.

At the top of the lists for Māori baby names, based on criteria from the Te Taura Whiri Māori Language Commission, are Mia for girls and Nikau for boys.

Every year the Registrar-General shares the most popular baby names by gathering information from SmartStart.

In 2021, 99 per cent of babies born in Aotearoa were registered using the online tool for new parents.

"SmartStart makes it easy for parents to find out all the things that need to be done when a baby is born, starting with registering the birth," said Registrar-General Births, Deaths and Marriages Jeff Montgomery.

"Registering your newborn makes sure they have an official identity from birth, so they can access their legal rights as they grow up."

The site also explains what parents need to do to get an IRD number for their baby, how to adjust a Ministry of Social Development benefit, and how to apply for the $60 a week BestStart payment. 

Isla and Amelia are the second and third most popular girls’ names for 2021, having fought Charlotte for the top spot for the last three years. The same trend runs for boys’ names, with Noah and Jack coming in second and third after joining Oliver in the top three for the previous four years.

A new addition to the top 10 boys’ names was Theodore, which has been creeping up the ranks in popularity since 2019.

In 2021, 56,013 births were registered in Aotearoa, with a total of 16,790 different first names. This shows a slow decline in births from the previous two years. A total of 17,749 different first names were given to 58,676 babies born in 2020. In 2019, there were 18,816 different first names given to 61,018 babies.

Top 10 – all names

 

Tama - Boy

Kōtiro - Girl

 

Name

Count

Name

Count

1

Oliver

308

Charlotte

227

2

Noah

265

Isla

214

3

Jack

235

Amelia

206

4

Leo

234

Olivia

185

5

George

222

Ava

184

6

Charlie

200

Willow

180

7

Lucas

190

Lily

174

8

Theodore

187

Isabella

171

9

William

181

Mila

170

10

Luca

172

Ella

165

Top 10 – Māori names

 

Tama - Boy

Kōtiro - Girl

 

Name

Count

Name

Count

1

Nikau

93

Mia

164

2

Ari

62

Aria

120

3

Niko

47

Maia

97

4

Koa

46

Aurora

86

5

Mateo

45

Amaia

63

6

Keanu

44

Kiara

52

7

Mikaere

41

Kaia

50

8

Manaia

41

Amara

44

9

Kairo

27

Kora

44

10

Kiwa

27

Maria

43