Baby names abandoned by Aussie parents revealed in 2023 report

Modern parents are ditching traditional names, with new data revealing several popular monikers have now disappeared completely.

The baby names parents are turning their back on have been revealed in a new report – with several monikers that were once popular disappearing altogether.

McCrindle’s 2023 Australian Baby Names report has revealed parents are “challenging traditional norms”, opting to give their children “unique” names instead of more classic ones.

Despite this, the top 10 lists for both boys and girls have remained largely unchanged, aside from a slight rejig in order.

Oliver has once again been named the most popular baby name for boys, marking more than a decade in the top spot.

Charlotte has returned to the top spot, being crowned Australia’s most popular girl’s name following a brief stint in second place, as last year’s winner Isla dropped to third place.

Oliver has been the most popular baby name for boys for over a decade. Picture: iStock

“When it comes to naming newborns, classic names have always been popular, such as William and Olivia, as well as names that are influenced by popular culture, like Harry, Audrey and Ariana,” Ashley Fell, social researcher at McCrindle, said.

“But we also see unique trends in how parents are choosing to name their babies in the last year.

“Parents are becoming more creative, using distinct spelling variations to make traditional names stand out.”

These include seeing Sophia as Sofia, Amelia as Emilia and Holly as Hallie, she said.

But as Aussie parents seek out modern versions of classic names, it means the decline in some previously popular monikers.

Several boys names that appeared in last year’s top 100 list have been abandoned altogether, with Ryder, Nicholas and Luka all dropping from the rankings.

Interestingly, Luca, has risen to spot 10, while Lucas came in fourteenth.

Charlotte has returned to the number one baby name for girls, after being knocked to second place last year. Picture: iStock

The girls have had names disappear from the top 100 too, such as Indiana which placed in position 93 last year, but slipped away completely in 2023.

Zoey, which ranked in last place in 2022, has also gone from the top 100 this year.

These dramatic falls have made way for the “increasingly popular” gender-neutral names that have been “consistently climbing” the rankings, McCrindle said.

“Millennial parents are challenging traditional norms in giving their newborns gender-neutral names,” Fell added.

“In the same light, it is becoming for common to see boy/girl variations of names, like Oliver and Olivia, Harry and Harriet, and Billy and Billie.”

These names debuted on the list in 2023. Picture: iStock

But some names, such as Nicholas and Zoey, have completely disappeared. Picture: iStock

Fell also said Australia’s growing multiculturalism has been reflected on the 2023 baby names list, sparking the rise in a “new cohort” of baby names.

“Over the next few years, look out for boys being named Rueben, Remy and Theo, and girls named Margot, Thea and Maeve.

“These names have all made significant jumps in the last year and are expected to become even more common.”

Out of the combined top 200 names, at least 89 can be traced to having come from a non-English background, which include Xavier, a Spanish name that came in at position 29 for boys, and Zara, an Arabic name ranking in spot 38 for girls.

The data gives an insightful glimpse into Generation Alpha, which is defined as those born between 2010 and 2024.

Top 10 Australian baby names for boys

1: Oliver

2: Noah

3: Leo

4: William

5: Henry

6: Jack

7: Theodore

8: Hudson

9: Charlie

10: Luca

Top 10 Australian baby names for girls

1: Charlotte

2: Amelia

3: Isla

4: Olivia

5: Mia

6: Ava

7: Matilda

8: Ella

9: Grace

10: Willow

Originally published as Baby names abandoned by Aussie parents revealed in 2023 report