Northern beaches parents opting for classic baby names

NORTHERN beaches parents are sticking with tradition when it comes to naming their babies. But Ellen McGill of Avalon chose ‘Arlo’ from a ‘list of cool names’ for her son.

NORTHERN  beaches parents are sticking with tradition when it comes to naming their babies, new data shows.

Oliver and Isabella were the number one choices for Pittwater parents in 2015, while Jack and Olivia were the most popular names in Warringah.

In Manly, Lachlan and Evie took the top spots.

But the top 20 lists in each council area were very similar.

Oliver was a universal favourite and featured in the top five in Manly, Warringah and Pittwater. It was also the number one boys’ name in NSW in both 2014 and 2015.

Classic names like Grace, Lily, William, Alexander and Jack were popular all over the northern beaches.

Proud Parents Annabelle and Jamie Stewart of Manly Vale were delighted when their son was one of the first babies born in 2015. They called him Jack which is one of the popular names of last year.

Charlotte was also a firm favourite, no doubt helped by Prince William and wife Kate choosing the name for their second child. It was also the top girls name in NSW last year.

Arlo was one of the more unusual baby names loved by local parents.

But though it was the fifth most popular boys’ name in Pittwater last year, it didn’t make Manly or Warringah’s top 20.

Ellie McGill of Avalon gave birth to her son Arlo in January last year and said she fell in love with the name after reading it on a list of “100 cool and upcoming names”.

“It was number 99 on the list,” she said.

“And (actor) Toni Colette has a son called Arlo, and I love Toni Collette.”

Ellie McGill of Avalon with her 14 month old baby Arlo. Picture: Troy Snook

Ms McGill said when she opted for the name, Collette’s son was the only other Arlo she’d heard of.

But she has noticed the name has become very popular, particularly around her home in Avalon.

“Now every second person I talk to knows an Arlo or has a child called Arlo, “ she laughed.

The actress Toni Collette. Picture: Christian Gilles

Actress Leighton Meester has a baby called Arlo. Picture: Getty

And the name is probably set to become even more fashionable after celebrity couple Leighton Meester and Adam Brody named their daughter Arlo.

The name, a variation of Charles, is of Italian origin.

The lists were provided by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

OUR MOST POPULAR NAMES

PITTWATER

BOYS

1. Oliver

2. Archie

3. William

4. Hunter

5. Arlo

6. Harrison

7. Beau

8. Liam

9. Lachlan

10. Henry

11. Harley

12. Hudson

13. Billy

14. Jack

15. Louie

16. Toby

17. Max

18. Ashton

19. Lincoln

20. Alexander

GIRLS

1. Isabella

2. Isla

3. Ruby

4. Lily

5. Ava

6. Mia

7. Charlotte

8. Evie

9. Grace

10.Chloe

11. Poppy

12. Millie

13. Mila

14.Savannah

15.Olivia

16. Skye

17.Jasmine

18.Matilda

19.Scarlett

20.Lucy

WARRINGAH

BOYS

1. Jack

2. Oliver

3. William

4. Lachlan

5. James

6. Archie

7, Lucas

8. Max

9. Thomas

10. Leo

11. Harrison

12. Harry

13. Liam

14.Charlie

15.Harvey

16.Benjamin

17. Ethan

18.Samuel

19.Hunter

20. Alexander

GIRLS

1. Olivia

2. Chloe

3. Ava

4. Grace

5. Lily

6. Ella

7. Emily

8. Zoe

9. Isla

10. Evie

11. Ruby

12. Matilda

13. Sophie

14. Emma

15. Charlotte

16. Eva

17. Mia

18. Isabella

19. Billie

20. Imogen

MANLY

BOYS

1. Lachlan

2. Jack

3. James

4. Oliver

5. Thomas

6. Harry

7. Joshua

8. William

9. Harvey

10. Lucas

11. Alexander

12. Charles

13. Benjamin

14. Henry

15. Theodore

16. Hugo

17. Max

18. Edward

19. Sonny

20. Cooper

GIRLS

1. Evie

2. Ella

3. Charlotte

4. Grace

5. Chloe

6. Florence

7. Amelie

8. Sienna

9. Sophia

10. Eva

11. Olivia

12. Emily

13. Matilda

14. Sophie

15. Mia

16, Piper

17. Ayla

18. Madeline

19. Lily

20. Zara