Oliver has been the most popular boys name in NSW for almost a decade, but not anymore.
Oliver has been the most popular boys name in NSW for almost a decade, but not anymore.
By Mary Ward
January 18, 2025 — 11.01pm
Do you know a baby called Noah? If you don’t, you probably will soon.
With 496 baby Noahs registered with the state’s Births, Deaths and Marriages office last year, the four-letter name was the top choice for boys born in NSW in 2024, bringing an end to Oliver’s decade-long reign.
Meanwhile, 383 little Charlottes entered the world last year, making it the most popular name for girls.
It is the first time Noah has been the top name for baby boys in NSW. Charlotte has held the spot six times in the past decade.
Before last year, Oliver had been crowned the state’s most popular boys’ name every year since 2014. Noah has been its main competitor over the past five years, as William – 2013’s most popular boys’ name – slowly declined in popularity to exit the top 10 in 2024.
The top girls’ name for 2023, Isla, which climbed to first position after entering the top 10 in 2016, has fallen back to fifth place. Over the past decade, Charlotte, Amelia and Olivia – the top three girls’ names in 2024 – have been the most popular names for baby girls.
New names on the 2024 list include Hazel, now ranked 8th after entering the top 100 list in 2014 and ranking 15th in 2023, and Elijah.
Rima and Sean Stoddart, from Allambie Heights on Sydney’s northern beaches, welcomed their baby Charlotte on February 27 last year. The meaning of the originally French name drove their choice.
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“Charlotte means ‘free man’,” Rima said.
“For us, that is very special. We want our daughter to know she is free to do and be whoever she wants to be.”
Wallsend couple Elouise and Mathew Lane, whose daughter Charlotte was born on May 21, did not realise how popular the name was. They were drawn to it because they liked “Lottie” as a nickname.
“I remember when Elle first floated the name Charlotte by me,” Mathew recalled. “I was quite emotional and straight away I knew that was what we would call our baby girl.”
Births, Deaths and Marriages will release the top 100 baby name rankings in March. The agency’s registrar, Theresa Fairman, teased that there could be some uncommon names on the list.
“2024’s list is shaping up to be an interesting one for NSW families,” she said.
Customer Service Minister Jihad Dib said it was always exciting to see the list of the top baby names in the state.
“The rankings share a snapshot of what families in NSW are gravitating towards when they name their babies, from enduring favourites such as Noah and Charlotte to emerging popular names like Hazel and Elijah,” he said.
“I wish all families who have welcomed a child into the world in 2024 nothing but happiness in these important first few years.”
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