- Published:
- Tuesday 10 January 2017
Charlotte reigned as queen of baby names for girls in 2016, while Oliver took the crown as most popular boys’ name for the third year in a row, according to the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Statistics revealed that Olivia, Mia, Amelia and Ava all remained in the top five most popular baby girls’ names from 2015, while Evelyn broke into the top 20 to replace Sienna.
Jack, William and Noah also made a repeat appearance in the top five boys’ names list for the second year in a row, while James edged out Thomas to round out the top five. The names Harry and Samuel also replaced Oscar and Benjamin in the top 20.
Oliver, a common medieval name, is of French origin and ostensibly means ‘olive tree’. The name Charlotte is the French feminine form of ‘Charles’ and was most famously used in recent times by Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with the birth of their daughter in May 2015.
Girls’ names looked very different five decades ago with Michelle, Karen, Lisa, Susan and Sharon claiming the top five places, while David, Peter, Michael, Paul and Andrew were the most popular names for boys.
Some names have continued to stand the test of time, with Lachlan and Jack both featuring in the top 20 names for boys 10 and 20 years ago. James is the only name to have also appeared in the top 20 list over the past 10, 20 and 50 years.
Olivia, Emily and Chloe have remained popular choices for girls’, appearing in the top 20 names in 1996 and 2006.
For the full list of popular names, visit www.bdm.vic.gov.au/utility/about+bdm/about+us/data/
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula
“Victorian parents have again shown an affinity with the name Oliver, while more traditional names such as Harry and Samuel made a resurgence in 2016.”
“Charlotte moved in to the top place for girls, no doubt inspired by the royal arrival of the daughter to the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge.”
“While names have changed significantly over the past fifty years, it seems there are some old favourites – including Jack, James, Emily and Chloe.”
Quote attributable to Member for Clarinda Hong Lim
“Naming your child is an exciting and important decision. It can help shape a child’s personal and community identity.”
TOP 20 BABY NAMES 2014, 2015, 2016
| No | 2016 Boys | 2015 Boys | 2014 Boys | 2016 Girls | 2015 Girls | 2014 Girls |
| 1 | Oliver | Oliver | Oliver | Charlotte | Olivia | Olivia |
| 2 | Jack | Jack | William | Olivia | Charlotte | Charlotte |
| 3 | William | William | Jack | Mia | Amelia | Mia |
| 4 | Noah | Thomas | Noah | Amelia | Ava | Ava |
| 5 | James | Noah | James | Ava | Mia | Chloe |
| 6 | Ethan | Ethan | Thomas | Isla | Chloe | Amelia |
| 7 | Thomas | James | Lucas | Zoe | Zoe | Sophie |
| 8 | Max | Lucas | Ethan | Evie | Evie | Emily |
| 9 | Mason | Max | Mason | Grace | Sophie | Ruby |
| 10 | Alexander | Charlie | Lachlan | Chloe | Emily | Ella |
| 11 | Henry | Mason | Charlie | Sophie | Ella | Isabella |
| 12 | Lucas | Alexander | Liam | Emily | Matilda | Sienna |
| 13 | Charlie | Oscar | Alexander | Ella | Grace | Matilda |
| 14 | Leo | Liam | Oscar | Harper | Ruby | Scarlett |
| 15 | Lachlan | Lachlan | Xavier | Ivy | Isabella | Evie |
| 16 | Isaac | Henry | Joshua | Evelyn | Isla | Ivy |
| 17 | Liam | Xavier | Max | Matilda | Ivy | Zara |
| 18 | Harry | Leo | Henry | Isabella | Harper | Emma |
| 19 | Samuel | Isaac | Samuel | Ruby | Sienna | Isla |
| 20 | Xavier | Benjamin | Benjamin | Lily | Lily | Lily |
TOP 20 NAMES OVER FIVE DECADES
| No | 2006 Boys 10yrs ago | 1996 Boys 20yrs ago | 1966 Boys 50yrs ago |
| 1 | Jack | Matthew | David |
| 2 | Lachlan | Joshua | Peter |
| 3 | Thomas | James | Michael |
| 4 | Joshua | Daniel | Paul |
| 5 | William | Jack | Andrew |
| 6 | James | Thomas | Mark |
| 7 | Ethan | Nicholas | John |
| 8 | Noah | Michael | Anthony |
| 9 | Benjamin | Benjamin | Robert |
| 10 | Daniel | Jake | Stephen |
| 11 | Ryan | Liam | Craig |
| 12 | Liam | Luke | Christopher |
| 13 | Nicholas | Nathan | Steven |
| 14 | Samuel | Dylan | Gregory |
| 15 | Oliver | Lachlan | James |
| 16 | Matthew | Jordan | Wayne |
| 17 | Luke | Mitchell | Rodney |
| 18 | Lucas | Samuel | Timothy |
| 19 | Alexander | Ryan | Shane |
| 20 | Riley | Christopher | Ian |
| No | 2006 Girls 10yrs ago | 1996 Girls 20yrs ago | 1966 Girls 50yrs ago |
| 1 | Olivia | Jessica | Michelle |
| 2 | Charlotte | Emily | Karen |
| 3 | Ella | Sarah | Lisa |
| 4 | Chloe | Stephanie | Susan |
| 5 | Emily | Emma | Sharon |
| 6 | Mia | Chloe | Jennifer |
| 7 | Isabella | Georgia | Julie |
| 8 | Sienna | Samantha | Maria |
| 9 | Jessica | Laura | Kim |
| 10 | Sophie | Rebecca | Leanne |
| 11 | Ava | Lauren | Joanne |
| 12 | Lily | Amy | Donna |
| 13 | Grace | Alexandra | Elizabeth |
| 14 | Hannah | Hannah | Helen |
| 15 | Emma | Olivia | Fiona |
| 16 | Amelia | Courtney | Catherine |
| 17 | Ruby | Maddison | Tracey |
| 18 | Sarah | Madeleine | Angela |
| 19 | Zoe | Brooke | Wendy |
| 20 | Jasmine | Tayla | Christine |