Top Baby Names in New Zealand

What are New Zealand parents naming their babies in 2023? How popular was your name when you were born?

We've created an interactive dashboard for you to easily explore New Zealand baby name data since 1954. 

The Department of Internal Affairs publishes data on the most popular baby names in New Zealand. Updated with 2023 data, this eagerly awaited compilation showcases the naming trends that have captured the hearts of kiwi parents over the past year.

Topping the charts for the year 2023, Noah and Charlotte emerge as the most popular choices. Prior to 2023, Oliver had been the #1 boys name for 10 years in a row. We'll be adding Girls names to the analysis soon! 

Names are becoming more diverse - the traditional names that used to dominate (think John, Michael and David) no longer do, and there are significantly more variants of names being given to children. 

• For example, Theodore and Theo were Top 20 boys names in New Zealand in 2023.

Pop culture has a strong influence on naming trends and we'll be extending this post further with examples from sport and entertainment.

• Star Wars was released in 1974, and Luke (Luke Skywalker) appeared in the Top 100 since 1975 onwards.
• Keanu Reeves starred alongside Sandra Bullock in ‘Speed’ in 1994, and in 1995 Keanu was suddenly the #96th most popular name. That was the only year Keanu made New Zealand's Top 100 names.
• Christian (Cullen), Taine (Randell), Carter (Dan Carter) and Beauden (Barrett) can all be closely linked to their respective All Blacks careers.