Australia v The World 🦘

And how to narrow your name search fast

Last week, Australia’s Top 100 baby names of 2024 were published — earlier than last year, maybe to avoid being eclipsed by the US data next month!

On the blog, we looked at the fastest rising and falling names, some big trends, and how Australia’s top names compare with those of America.

But actually, popular Aussie names have much more in common with other English-speaking countries. For example, parents’ love for Isla and Charlie is much more in line with New Zealand, Britain, and Canada.

I compared the Top 100 names in six other nations — New Zealand, USA*, Canada*, England & Wales*, Scotland, and Ireland — to find whose favourite baby names are most like Australia’s.

*Using data from 2023 for these countries, the most recent year available.

Girl names 🌏

Ranked in order from most to least similar Top 100 to Australia:

1. New Zealand (83 shared names)
   It’s no surprise that Australia’s neighbours love almost all the same girl names. Both countries’ Top 100 includes Amara, Billie, Frankie, Kaia, and Mackenzie.

2. England & Wales (70 shared names)
   Australia’s close ties to England still show in the popular girl names they have in common. Some especially high-ranking in both include Ivy, Sienna, and Willow.

3. Scotland (65 shared names)
   Australia and Scotland are the only two countries to have Remi in their Top 100.

4. Canada (61 shared names)
   Only Australia and Canada have Charlie as a Top 100 girl name.

5. Ireland (60 shared names)
   Only in Scotland and Ireland are Sophie and Grace Top 10 names.

6. USA (59 shared names)
   Despite having the least similar Top 100 lists, Australia and the States are the only two countries with Adeline, Ariana, Lainey, and Savannah on the list.

Australia’s uniquely popular girl names, which are not in the Top 100 in any other of these countries, are Maggie, Piper, Pippa, and Remi.

Boy names 🌏

Ranked in order from most to least similar Top 100 to Australia:

1. New Zealand (80 shared names)
   Naturally, Kiwi parents have the most in common with Aussie ones, sharing four fifths of the names in their boys’ Top 100. Names especially popular in both countries are Archer, Harvey, Koa, River, and Spencer.

2. Canada (66 shared names)
   Australia and Canada are the only countries here with Ali and Xavier in their Top 100.

3. England & Wales (64 shared names)
   Only Australia and England & Wales share Finley as a Top 100 boy name.

4. Scotland (59 shared names)
   Scottish names Angus and Lachlan are long-term favourites in both Australia and New Zealand. So is Hamish, which dropped out of the Aussie Top 100 for the first time last year.

5. USA (53 shared names)
   Australia and the States share just over half their Top 100 boy names, and only these two countries have Julian and Leonardo on the list.

6. Ireland (48 shared names)
   Australia has less than half its Top 100 boy names in common with Ireland, in part because there are just so many strongly Irish names on Ireland’s list. However, these are the only two countries with Patrick in their Top 100.

Australia’s uniquely popular boy names, which are not in the Top 100 in any other of these countries, are Darcy, Fletcher, Flynn, Lennox, Remy, and Vincent.

Did you miss…?

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• The most Midwestern baby names of all — from Archibald to Zelie.

• Want to name your baby Jezebella, Padmé or Senator? Not in Finland.

• I’m going to take this as a compliment and run with it 😊