How popular is your newborn's name? The top picks revealed

Jessica Belzycki
Updated May 6 2024 - 5:29pm, first published 2:52pm

The top baby names in NSW have been revealed with first-time winner Isla for girls and returning champion Oliver for boys.

It is the ninth time in ten years Oliver has topped the boy names after being briefly dethroned by Noah in 2022. It was a close race with Oliver winning by just 18 registered births for the 2023 year.

The department of customer service has revealed the top baby names for 2023 in NSW. Picture Canva images.
The department of customer service has revealed the top baby names for 2023 in NSW. Picture Canva images.

Isla won by a slim margin, only having four more registered births than Amelia, according to the NSW Department of Customer Service. The girls' names were originally tied when the preliminary top 10 was released in January.

Climbing the ladder from the third sport in 2022, Isla surpassed Charlotte, Olivia and Amelia which have been the only names to hold number one since Chloe in 2011.

Newcastle mother, Teagan Coleman said when she named her daughter Isla four years ago it was a unique name.

"It is a beautiful name, very soft, I consider her my princess," Ms Coleman said.

"I named Isla her name because I had never heard it around Newcastle before. Now I go to the park, to the shopping centre and all you hear is Isla," she said.

Newcomers also made the top 100 list with Amara, Maisie, Margot, Lucia, Lottie, Cleo, Kaia, Callie, Kiara, Zahra and Miles, Isaiah, Darcy, Tommy, Spencer, Parker, Mateo and Marcus.

For the girls, Cleo and Amara climbed up 61 and 54 spots from 2022 and were sitting at spots 87 and 68 in 2023, while Delilah claimed the 55th spot in 2023, up from 90th in 2022.

Previous winner, Charlotte fell four positions to fifth while Bella and Addison just clung to their top 100 status.

New parents are turning to TikTok for baby inspiration, including lists like this. Footage: TikTok/Summer Fox

For boys, Miles shot 39 places up to 62nd in 2023, and Koa rose from 95th to 65th. Ali fell 34 places down to 100th in 2023 and Logan dropped 28 spots to spot 89.

Names falling out of favour in 2023 include Riley, Gabriella, Harlow, Claire, Anastasia, Leah, Charlie, Elodie, Jasmine and Quinn for girls and Christian, Nicholas, Hamish, Vincent, Connor, Ashton, Dylan and Julia for boys.

Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Teresa Fairman congratulated all families who welcomed a newborn in 2023.

"Whether you choose an old classic or a new trendsetter, registering a name is easy and must be done within 60 days of the child being born," Ms Fairman said.

"Finding the right name to give to your baby can [be] challenging but we hope our list of popular names helps you find the one that's just right for you."

As of April 30 2024, there have been 85,819 registered births for babies born in NSW in the 2023 calendar year.

Top 10 girls names

  1. Isla
  2. Amelia
  3. Olivia
  4. Mia
  5. Charlotte
  6. Ava
  7. Lily
  8. Sophie, Evelyn (tied)
  9. Matilda

Top 10 boys names

  1. Oliver
  2. Noah
  3. Leo
  4. Henry
  5. Theodore
  6. Luca
  7. Hudson
  8. William
  9. Lucas
  10. Charlie
Jessica Belzycki

Journalist at the Newcastle Herald.