4 January 2017

Canberra's most popular baby names of 2016 revealed

| Amy M
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Baby

The top 10 baby names in the ACT for 2016 have been announced, with Canberra parents opting for traditional names like Charlotte, William, Grace and Thomas.

Charlotte topped the list of girl’s names for the second year running, according to Minister for Regulatory Services Gordon Ramsay. Charlotte has appeared in Canberra’s top 10 list for girls each year since 2003.

William, which also topped the list in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014, emerged as the most popular name for boys.

Audrey, Lily and Evelyn were new to the top 10 list for girl names with favourites Amelia, Ava, Zoe and Grace appearing again as top girl’s names for 2016.

Joining William, other popular names re-appearing in the top 10 baby boy names were Lachlan, Jack, Thomas and Oliver.

Canberra’s top 10 names for girls

  1. Charlotte
  2. Amelia
  3. Ava
  4. Zoe
  5. Grace
  6. Evelyn
  7. Mia
  8. Abigail
  9. Audrey
  10. Lily

Canberra’s top 10 names for boys

  1. William
  2. Lachlan
  3. Thomas
  4. Jack
  5. Oliver
  6. Liam
  7. James
  8. Alexander
  9. Leo
  10. Ethan

On average, 18 babies were born each day in Canberra in 2016.

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Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

Maya123 said :

JC said :

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

I’m guessing many parents wouldn’t know that all those names are Biblical. David, Alexander, Thomas for instance. I didn’t know the last two were. In fact when I looked up Alexander, the meaning was given as Greek.
From Wikipedia: “the name Alexander is derived from the Greek ?????????? (Aléxandros), meaning “Defender of the people” or “Defending men”[1] and also, “Protector of men”, a compound of the verb ??????? alexein, “to ward off, to avert, to defend”[2] and the noun ???? an?r, “man” (GEN ?????? andros)”

That may be the origin of the name, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a biblical name too.

That could be true, and I would be interested in it’s Biblical reference. However, I still maintain that many/most new parents would not see the names as particularly Biblical, so any collation between religion and giving a child a name with a religious origin doesn’t exist. The names are common and the parents just like them. Personalty I would steer away from any names with a religious base, as it labels a child. Maybe not here, but many people travel and it might elsewhere.

“……….so any collation between religion and giving a child a name with a religious origin doesn’t exist……….”

Several billion Muslims would disagree with you on that.

In Australia!
I thought this thread was discussing Australian given names, not the whole world population…taking your lead…that would include names in the remotest tribe. You mention “Several billion Muslims”, so you are meaning the whole world’s population. Personally, I was following the thread and only talking about children named here in Australia. Names of the entire world’s population is beyond me. Besides, the word I addressed was “Biblical”.
My comments about giving children names of any religious origin still stand. At least for those children who are likely to travel to other places in the world, and how can a parent know that their children won’t.

You made a general comment about names with a “religious origin” and about biblical names specifically.

My comment was alluding to the former, not the latter and if you are discussing just “Australia” be aware that the bible predates us by several thousand years.

dungfungus said :

Maya123 said :

JC said :

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

I’m guessing many parents wouldn’t know that all those names are Biblical. David, Alexander, Thomas for instance. I didn’t know the last two were. In fact when I looked up Alexander, the meaning was given as Greek.
From Wikipedia: “the name Alexander is derived from the Greek ?????????? (Aléxandros), meaning “Defender of the people” or “Defending men”[1] and also, “Protector of men”, a compound of the verb ??????? alexein, “to ward off, to avert, to defend”[2] and the noun ???? an?r, “man” (GEN ?????? andros)”

That may be the origin of the name, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a biblical name too.

That could be true, and I would be interested in it’s Biblical reference. However, I still maintain that many/most new parents would not see the names as particularly Biblical, so any collation between religion and giving a child a name with a religious origin doesn’t exist. The names are common and the parents just like them. Personalty I would steer away from any names with a religious base, as it labels a child. Maybe not here, but many people travel and it might elsewhere.

“……….so any collation between religion and giving a child a name with a religious origin doesn’t exist……….”

Several billion Muslims would disagree with you on that.

In Australia!
I thought this thread was discussing Australian given names, not the whole world population…taking your lead…that would include names in the remotest tribe. You mention “Several billion Muslims”, so you are meaning the whole world’s population. Personally, I was following the thread and only talking about children named here in Australia. Names of the entire world’s population is beyond me. Besides, the word I addressed was “Biblical”.
My comments about giving children names of any religious origin still stand. At least for those children who are likely to travel to other places in the world, and how can a parent know that their children won’t.

Maya123 said :

JC said :

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

I’m guessing many parents wouldn’t know that all those names are Biblical. David, Alexander, Thomas for instance. I didn’t know the last two were. In fact when I looked up Alexander, the meaning was given as Greek.
From Wikipedia: “the name Alexander is derived from the Greek ?????????? (Aléxandros), meaning “Defender of the people” or “Defending men”[1] and also, “Protector of men”, a compound of the verb ??????? alexein, “to ward off, to avert, to defend”[2] and the noun ???? an?r, “man” (GEN ?????? andros)”

That may be the origin of the name, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a biblical name too.

That could be true, and I would be interested in it’s Biblical reference. However, I still maintain that many/most new parents would not see the names as particularly Biblical, so any collation between religion and giving a child a name with a religious origin doesn’t exist. The names are common and the parents just like them. Personalty I would steer away from any names with a religious base, as it labels a child. Maybe not here, but many people travel and it might elsewhere.

“……….so any collation between religion and giving a child a name with a religious origin doesn’t exist……….”

Several billion Muslims would disagree with you on that.

JC said :

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

I’m guessing many parents wouldn’t know that all those names are Biblical. David, Alexander, Thomas for instance. I didn’t know the last two were. In fact when I looked up Alexander, the meaning was given as Greek.
From Wikipedia: “the name Alexander is derived from the Greek ?????????? (Aléxandros), meaning “Defender of the people” or “Defending men”[1] and also, “Protector of men”, a compound of the verb ??????? alexein, “to ward off, to avert, to defend”[2] and the noun ???? an?r, “man” (GEN ?????? andros)”

That may be the origin of the name, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a biblical name too.

I would dispute that Alexander is a biblical name as how many Alexanders of note are in the Bible? It is not the name of one of the 12 disciples. Without doubt the name Alexander pre-dates the Bible. Alexander the Great was born in 356 B.C, in the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia. He went on to conquer most of the known world of his day, spreading Greek culture, language, and thought from Greece throughout Asia Minor, Egypt, and Mesopotamia to India.

JC said :

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

I’m guessing many parents wouldn’t know that all those names are Biblical. David, Alexander, Thomas for instance. I didn’t know the last two were. In fact when I looked up Alexander, the meaning was given as Greek.
From Wikipedia: “the name Alexander is derived from the Greek ?????????? (Aléxandros), meaning “Defender of the people” or “Defending men”[1] and also, “Protector of men”, a compound of the verb ??????? alexein, “to ward off, to avert, to defend”[2] and the noun ???? an?r, “man” (GEN ?????? andros)”

That may be the origin of the name, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a biblical name too.

That could be true, and I would be interested in it’s Biblical reference. However, I still maintain that many/most new parents would not see the names as particularly Biblical, so any collation between religion and giving a child a name with a religious origin doesn’t exist. The names are common and the parents just like them. Personalty I would steer away from any names with a religious base, as it labels a child. Maybe not here, but many people travel and it might elsewhere.

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

I’m guessing many parents wouldn’t know that all those names are Biblical. David, Alexander, Thomas for instance. I didn’t know the last two were. In fact when I looked up Alexander, the meaning was given as Greek.
From Wikipedia: “the name Alexander is derived from the Greek ?????????? (Aléxandros), meaning “Defender of the people” or “Defending men”[1] and also, “Protector of men”, a compound of the verb ??????? alexein, “to ward off, to avert, to defend”[2] and the noun ???? an?r, “man” (GEN ?????? andros)”

That may be the origin of the name, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a biblical name too.

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

I’m guessing many parents wouldn’t know that all those names are Biblical. David, Alexander, Thomas for instance. I didn’t know the last two were. In fact when I looked up Alexander, the meaning was given as Greek.
From Wikipedia: “the name Alexander is derived from the Greek ?????????? (Aléxandros), meaning “Defender of the people” or “Defending men”[1] and also, “Protector of men”, a compound of the verb ??????? alexein, “to ward off, to avert, to defend”[2] and the noun ???? an?r, “man” (GEN ?????? andros)”

MERC600 said :

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

The ACT list (and indeed most national lists) only disclose the top ten names.

Digging deeper, McCrindle’s latest available “Baby Names in Australia 2015” quotes :

“The following Biblical names have increased in popularity since 2013: Thomas (6th up from 7th), Samuel (15th up from 16th), Levi (28th up from 29th), Aaron (92th up from 94th), David (91st up from 95th), Caleb (67th upfrom 72nd), Alexander (9th up from 15th), Elijah (30th up from 36th) and Gabriel (86th up from 105th).

Arabic names also feature on the list, with Layla at 32nd (down from 30th) and Ali rose to 87th place (up from 93rd).

Muhammad also re-entered the list this year, coming in at 90th, up from 101st in 2013.

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Just out of interest, I do wonder where the name Mohammad does appear on the ACT list.

pink little birdie said :

And 20 names off our list.
Well 10 – We already decided on the name for one of the sexes.

Names are hard.
Other people should suggest some.

Younique?

Any name where you’ve strategically replaced an “i” with a “y”?

pink little birdie said :

And 20 names off our list.
Well 10 – We already decided on the name for one of the sexes.

Names are hard.
Other people should suggest some.

My kids’ name usually come in somewhere between 11 and 30 on these lists – common enough that they are recognisable and easy to spell, but hopefully they’ll each be the only one in their class with their first name.

pink little birdie10:46 pm 04 Jan 17

Acton said :

pink little birdie said :

And 20 names off our list.
Well 10 – We already decided on the name for one of the sexes.

Names are hard.
Other people should suggest some.

Donald? Pauline?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
No current well know politicians from any country.

pink little birdie said :

And 20 names off our list.
Well 10 – We already decided on the name for one of the sexes.

Names are hard.
Other people should suggest some.

Donald? Pauline?

pink little birdie5:01 pm 04 Jan 17

And 20 names off our list.
Well 10 – We already decided on the name for one of the sexes.

Names are hard.
Other people should suggest some.

bruce_lord said :

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

No, it simply means that Muslims in Australia are having more children than non-Muslims in Australia.

Acton said :

Could it be that Canberra is not so pro-republic as believed? In 2016 the most popular names for Canberra babies were William and Charlotte. You would hardly pick those names if you were pro-republican, anti-royal family. Is there growing admiration for the royals amongst young mums and dads? Are Gen Xs and Ys rejecting the tired rantings of the anti-monarchist pro-republican baby-boomers?

The ANU Australian Election Study indicates that the percentage of the population in favour of a republic has been consistently declining since 1997. The graph at page 80 of the report (The Queen, the flag and republicanism) shows that in 2016 support for a republic is now at its lowest level since 1987.

http://www.australianelectionstudy.org/

A reputable survey (and the choice of baby names) suggests there is even less desire for a republic now than there was back in 1999 when the referendum rejected a republic. Happy New Year to all republicans!

I think the drop in support for a republic is far more relatable to the fact that it has not been a major issue raised by the media or any political party in recent years. This along with growing distrust of politicians leads people to be more conservative and support the status quo. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when the Queen falls of the perch.

And BTW it’s also interesting to note that both of those Royal baby names are in the top ten most popular in the USA. The Redcoats are making a comeback I tells ya, it’s the slow burn.

A correlation between baby names and a reduced desire to become a republic. I have officially heard it all now.

Considering Mohammad is the fastest growing name in Australia it must mean we are all becoming Muslim.

Acton said :

Is there growing admiration for the royals amongst young mums and dads? Are Gen Xs and Ys rejecting the tired rantings of the anti-monarchist pro-republican baby-boomers?

I would guess just following fashion and maybe celebrity names; not any indication of pro or against republican feelings. People can be ‘sheep’, especially young people.

Could it be that Canberra is not so pro-republic as believed? In 2016 the most popular names for Canberra babies were William and Charlotte. You would hardly pick those names if you were pro-republican, anti-royal family. Is there growing admiration for the royals amongst young mums and dads? Are Gen Xs and Ys rejecting the tired rantings of the anti-monarchist pro-republican baby-boomers?

The ANU Australian Election Study indicates that the percentage of the population in favour of a republic has been consistently declining since 1997. The graph at page 80 of the report (The Queen, the flag and republicanism) shows that in 2016 support for a republic is now at its lowest level since 1987.

http://www.australianelectionstudy.org/

A reputable survey (and the choice of baby names) suggests there is even less desire for a republic now than there was back in 1999 when the referendum rejected a republic. Happy New Year to all republicans!

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