Names that have stood the test of time have prevailed again in the ranks of the most popular baby names in Victoria, with Amelia rising to be the most popular name for girls in 2023, and Oliver retaining the crown for boys for the tenth year in a row.
The name Amelia knocked Charlotte to second most popular after it held the title in recent years. It was followed by Olivia, Mia, and Isla, while new entrants to the top 20 most popular girls’ names were Harper, Evelyn and Sienna.
For boys’ names, Oliver must hold the No 1 place for another 13 years if it is to score a record run. John holds the title for recording the longest streak as most popular boys’ name, topping the list for 23 years from 1929 to 1951. John doesn’t rate in this year’s top 100; nor does Margaret, which holds the record for top name for girls with 24 years from 1929 to 1952.
Oliver was followed in popularity by other traditional names: Noah, Henry, Leo, and Charlie.
Entering the top 20 for boys last year were Oscar, James, and Sebastian, while Max, Harry, and Liam dropped out.
Some not-so-common names appeared in the top 100 most common baby names, including Zayn, August and Phoenix for boys, and Harlow and Quinn for girls.
Meanwhile, the success of the Matildas at the Women’s World Cup didn’t manage to bump up the popularity of the name. It ranked seventh last year, but sixth in 2022.
Out of the 72,932 births registered in Victoria last year, 514 boys were called Oliver and 333 girls were named Amelia.
The name Amelia has German origins and means industrious or hardworking. Amelias who live up to their name include the American aviator Amelia Earhart and the rapper Iggy Azalea, whose real name is Amelia.
The name Oliver has roots in France and England, stemming from the olive tree, a common symbol for peace.
“Naming your child is an exciting part of parenthood – people draw inspiration from all manner of sources and it’s fascinating to see the trends come and go,” said Victoria’s minister for government services, Gabrielle Williams.
Oliver was also the most popular name for boys in 2023 for those born in Tasmania and Western Australia. For girls, Hazel topped the list in Tasmania, while in WA it was Isla for the girls.
NSW Births Deaths and Marriages will reveal 2023’s most popular baby names for the state by the end of January.
