While there are Aussie names that are uniquely Australian – such as Banjo, Clancy and Ned for boys, Matilda, Victoria and Adelaide for girls, or the many Indigenous names – and Australian baby names that are just unique – God bless those bogan names – when most Australians decide what to call their bubs, they prefer to go for something traditional rather than unusual.
“Around one in ten of Australia’s 300,000 babies born in the last year were given one of the top ten baby names,” says the McCrindle Report, which compiles the favourite Australian girls’ names and most frequently chosen Australian boys’ names, and which we have used below to create the list of most popular Australian names.
So here are the true blue Aussie favourites of 2018 (meanings and pronunciations come mainly from the Baby Centre website):
Boys’ names
10. Mason
Pronunciation: MAY sun
Origin: German
Meaning: the word means a stoneworker and comes from the Old English macian – to make.
Famous Namesakes: Mason Disick
General Overview: While the popularity of the name of Kourtney Kardashian’s eldest may be a sign of the influence that clan wields, the reason she chose the name in the first place is interesting.
“The first time I started looking at baby names, Mason was the only one I liked. It was the only one that stuck with me. Right before he was born, I told my aunt we were thinking about going with that for a name. She told me that Mason means the same thing in English that Kardashian means in Armenian — stone worker,” Kourtney said to Life & Style.
9. Ethan
Pronunciation: EE th uh n
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Coming from the Hebrew word “Eitan”, it means solid or strong.
Famous Namesakes: Actor Ethan Hawke or the character Ethan Hunt from Mission: Impossible.
General Overview: A name that was barely used before the 1970s is now a regular in preschools around Australia. King Solomon was said to be so wise, he was wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite (Kings 4:31), so we’re guessing that Ethan must have been pretty wise to be held up as a standard.
8. Henry
Pronunciation: HEN ree
Origin: German
Meaning: From the old German name Haimrich, which is a combo of the words for home and ruler.
Famous Namesakes: It’s the real first name of a certain favourite prince.
General Overview: A popular choice for English royals, if Prince Harry ascends to the throne he will be crowned the ninth King Henry. There is also the Superman actor Henry Cavill.
7. Lucas
Pronunciation: LOO kuss
Origin: Greek
Meaning: A person who comes from the Southern Italian region of Lucania.
Famous Namesakes: Lucas Hedges (Boy Erased), Lucas Grabeel (High School Musical) and several soccer players!
General Overview: Having used to be more commonly known as a surname (e.g. George Lucas, Matt Lucas), the first name Lucas has gained popularity throughout the ages by its association with the name of Luke, one of the four gospels.
6. James
Pronunciation: j AY m z
Origin: Hebrew, English
Meaning: An English name from the Latin Iacomus, deriving from the root of the name Jacob, which means heel
Famous Namesakes: James Corden, James Bond, James Blunt, James Cameron
General Overview: A traditional British name – including for many Scottish kings – James is a good solid name that has maintained its popularity for centuries, often shortened to Jim or Jimmy.
5. Thomas
Pronunciation: T OHM uhs
Origin: Greek
Meaning: From the Greek version of the Aramaic word Teoma, meaning twin.
Famous Namesakes: Tom Cruise, Thomas the Tank Engine, English writer Thomas Hardy
General Overview: More commonly shortened to Tom, it does give its name to both revered religious characters – Thomas Aquinas – and less so, the famous “Doubting Thomas” who didn’t believe in the resurrection of Christ.
4. Noah
Pronunciation: N OH uh
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: From the word that means comfortable or rest
Famous Namesakes: ER’s Noah Wyle, popular Netflix romantic lead Noah Centino
General Overview: As well as that famous guy with the ark from the Bible, Noah can also be a girl’s name e.g. Noah Cyrus, Miley’s sister.
3. Jack
Pronunciation: j ak
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: a derivative of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning God is gracious.
Famous Namesakes: Jack Black, Jack Nicholson
General Overview: Another name that has stood the test of time, Jack is also popular as a character name, most notably Capt Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
2. William
Pronunciation: w IH l yuhm
Origin: German
Meaning: From the Old German compound of words wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protector). So, someone who has the desire to protect.
Famous Namesakes: Prince William, William Shakespeare, William Shatner
General Overview: What’s better than a Harry? A William, second in line to the throne and his name comes in second on our list. There is also the common shortening of the name to Bill (Bill Skarsgard, Bill Pullman), Will (Will Smith, Will.i.am) and their adaptations, Billy and Willy.
1. Oliver
Pronunciation: O li va
Origin: Latin
Meaning: From the latin word for olive tree
Famous Namesakes: Kate’s brother Oliver Hudson, Oliver Twist
General Overview: Like the girls’ name Olivia, this old standard has been enjoying a recent resurgence in popularity, taking out the No. 1 position on the McCrindle list, which says it has maintained the top spot since 2013. That makes sense: you can’t hit a playground without cries of “Olly” ringing out!
Girls’ Names
10. Harper
Pronunciation: HH AA R Per
Origin: English
Meaning: Someone who plays a harp, similar to the name Piper, someone who plays the pipe or flute.
Famous Namesakes: Harper Beckham, To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee
General Overview: Originally someone who would playing some soothing sounds on a harp in a medieval castle, Harper, which can also be a boys’ name, has become a popular choice for celebrity offspring, including Neil Patrick Harris’s daughter and Armie Hammer’s. But the best know Harper is that of Victoria and David Beckham. Could fashionista Posh have got inspiration from magazine Harper’s Bazaar?
9. Chloe
Pronunciation: KLO ee
Origin: Greek
Meaning: a shoot on a plant, the name has come to mean blooming
Famous Namesakes: Chloë Grace Moretz, Chloë Sevigny, designer brand Chloé
General Overview: Speaking of Beckhams, actress Moretz raised her profile with an on-off relationship with eldest Beckham child, Brooklyn. And probably the most famous Chloe would be Khloé Kardashian. Does she count?
8. Ella
Pronunciation: EH l uh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: From the Greek Helene which means light, an alternate form of Helen.
Famous Namesakes: Ella Fitzgerald, Cinderella, Australian actress Ella Scott Lynch
General Overview: After sleeping near the fire to get warm, poor old Ella from the fairy tales had the word “cinder” added to her name, but we guess that bit won’t catch on even if it would make your child a Disney princess. Also, there is the unparalleled jazz singer Fitzgerald as a namesake if you choose this for your baby.
7. Grace
Pronunciation: GRAYss
Origin: Latin
Meaning: from gratia, which translates to thanks. The English meaning took on the connotation of elegance and beauty.
Famous Namesakes: Grace Kelly
General Overview: As well as the famous Hollywood star turned Monaco royalty, the afore-mentioned Moretz adds this moniker to nab two of the top ten girls’ names.
6. Isla
Pronunciation: Al lah
Origin: Spanish or Scottish
Meaning: The Spanish word for island, it is also thought to be derived from the place Islay in Scotland.
Famous Namesakes: Isla Fisher
General Overview: Whether you like it for its Spanish or its Scottish origins, you can’t go wrong naming your bub after former Home and Away actress Fisher, who is a hoot in movies like Wedding Crashers, writes kids books and is married to comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
5. Mia
Pronunciation: M EE uh
Origin: Mixed
Meaning: Some say this name is derived from the Latin word for mine, others say it is the Scandinavian form of Maria, from the word for bitter.
Famous Namesakes: Mia Farrow
General Overview: As well the inspiration behind the pixie haircut, Rosemary’s Baby actress Mia Farrow is known for her brood of children. Then there is the fabulous Princess Diaries character, Mia Thermopolis.
4. Amelia
Pronunciation: Uh ME LEE uh
Origin: German
Meaning: From the old German adaptation of the Latin word to strive, also means to work
Famous Namesakes: Amelia Shepherd, Amelia Earhart
General Overview: As well as sometimes being shortened to Amy, or spelt alternatively as Emilia, the name Amelia is known for the pioneer aviator who disappeared and also as the neurosurgeon sister of Grey’s Anatomy’s beloved Derek Shepherd.
3. Ava
Pronunciation: AY vuh
Origin: Latin or Hebrew
Meaning: Either from the Latin to fly (like aviation) or a variant of the Hebrew name Eve.
Famous Namesakes: 1950s glamazon Ava Gardner, who, like Mia Farrow, married Frank Sinatra
General Overview: Hugh Jackman, Heather Locklear and Reese Witherspoon all have daughters named Ava.
2. Olivia
Pronunciation: Oh LIV Ee Uh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Like Olive and Oliver, Olivia comes from the Latin for olive tree
Famous Namesakes: Olivia Newton-John, actresses Olivia Wilde and Olivia de Havilland
General Overview: Our most well known Olivia is Newton-John, famous for her blockbuster movies and her singing. But there is also Hollywood royalty Olivia de Havilland. This name is often shortened to Liv or Livvy.
1. Charlotte
Pronunciation: sh AHr luht
Origin: English and French
Meaning: The female version of Charles, which means free man.
Famous Namesakes: Princess Charlotte, Jane Eyre author Charlotte Brontë, Charlotte from Sex and the City
General Overview: The most common name in Australia for a girl became popular in England after they had a queen named Charlotte who was married to George III. Can be shortened to Lottie or Charlie. “Charlotte has been crowned the top baby girl name in Australia for the third year in a row, exceeding Olivia – who held the top rank in 2014,” says the McCrindle Report.
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