By: McCrindle
For almost a decade McCrindle has analysed the top baby names nationwide.
Each year, each state and territory publish the top names given to babies in the previous year, and after collation, McCrindle identifies the national trends.
Analysing the top baby names uncovers fascinating insights of today’s names given to babies which then become a generational marker for the people born within a certain timeframe. This year is particularly special as it will round out Generation Alpha (born 2010-2024) and from 2025 we will welcome a whole new generation in Generation Beta (born 2025-2039).
Oliver and Isla are the most popular baby names
Oliver is the top baby boy name, continuing his 11-year reign across Australia. For Generation Alpha, the generation born between 2010 and 2024, Oliver has been the top baby boy name for all but four years of Gen Alpha.
Isla, after contending in the top 5 for many years, makes a reappearance as the number one baby girl name. She knocks Charlotte off the top position.
The top ten baby boy’s names remain unchanged though shifting rankings as Hudson, Theodore and Luca gain in popularity. Lily, Hazel and Harper make an entrance in the top ten for the girls eclipsing Ella, Grace and Willow from the year prior.
Top 10 most popular baby names
Trends in boys’ and girls’ names
The top 100 boys list is full of both traditional names and unique and trending names such as names like William, George and Arthur. Parents to Gen Alpha are opting for one, two and three syllable names and are also choosing names that are shortened or abbreviated, such as Harry from Harrison and Theo from Theodore.
The girls top 100 list is seeing an increasing number of names with either “i” or “y” and in particular, seeing names ending in “ie” making headway in popularity with names like, Millie, Billie and Lottie. Parents to Gen Alpha are also inspired by flora and wildlife and choosing names such as Ivy, Willow and Summer.
Some names are rapidly increasing in popularity. For the boys, Miles has climbed 53 ranks since last year alone, making a strong appearance having only just made an entry to the top 100 list at position 87 last year.
Cleo rises 44 ranks, Nina 43 and Ada 40 ranks, all highlighting some strong contenders for increasing popular baby girl names.
Parents are finding new inspiration in names typical for the opposite gender. Names like Billy and Billie, Olive and Olivia and Oliver and Remy and Remi are all found on the top 100 list.
Parents of Gen Alpha inspired by Family Names
Choosing a name can be much more than deciding what’s on their child’s certificate at birth, but a meaningful social and cultural experience. Parents to Generation Alpha were asked what influenced them when choosing their child’s name. Three in ten indicated that a family name influenced them when choosing their child’s name (30%).
Other parents were influenced by Baby Names websites (21%) and 17% were influenced by cultural or religious influence. Others were influenced by friends (13%) the Bible (10%), social media (10%) and the top 100 Baby names from previous years (9%). For those who selected other (8%), many indicated that it was personal preference and others were influenced by a TV or movie or a singer or music.
Historical baby names
Names become a generational marker and paint a fascinating picture of the era in which babies are born. Reviewing the decades back to the 1950s reveals interesting insights into the naming patterns of each generation. In the 1950s, names like Maxine and Norman were popular. In the 1960s, Ruth and Frank were popular, followed by Deborah and Neil in the 1970s. Fiona and Ian become popular in the 80s, and Lisa and Scott in the 90s. The turn of the century saw names like Laura and Jason become popular, followed by Florence and Reuben in the 2010s, both of which are still on the current top 100 baby name list.
2024 Baby Names Report
Get all the insights on the top baby names in the full report.
Article supplied with thanks to McCrindle.
About the Author: McCrindle are a team of researchers and communications specialists who discover insights, and tell the story of Australians – what we do, and who we are.
Feature image: Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash