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If having the new royal baby’s name announced has got you thinking about what you might call your own child, make sure you know what’s on and what’s off the cards.
While you are spoilt for choice when it comes to options, it’s important to know that over 50 names have been rejected by the Registrar-General in New Zealand.
In New Zealand, a name or combination of names must not cause offence to a reasonable person, be unreasonably long, or include or resemble an official title or rank.
Last year, ‘Prince’ came in as the most commonly ejected name, with four parents not getting their way.
‘Royal’ and ‘Royalty’ were both turned down three times and Duke, Miss, and Saint were rejected twice each.
Some of the more outlandish titles to be rejected, since the legislation was introduced in 1995, include 4real, V8, Eminence, Mafia No Fear and Lucifer.
Meanwhile, if you don’t want your child’s identity to stick out like a sore thumb, you might do well to choose Oliver or Charlotte. Oliver has been the top name choice for boys in the country over the past five consecutive years. It was used 314 times in 2017.
Charlotte has now been the number one female name choice four times since 2006. Last year it was
used 277 times.
The most common girl’s name by year since 1954 is Sarah, topping the list 16 times, 14 of which were consecutive.
Michael topped the boy’s list a record 14 times between 1968 and 1989.
David proved the most used name in a single year, 1514 children received this name in 1963.
The most popular Maori names for 2016 were Maia and Nikau.
Most popular baby names in New Zealand for 2017: Boys, Oliver, Jack, Noah, William, Hunter, James, George, Mason, Lucas and Arlo; Girls, Charlotte, Harper, Isla, Olivia, Ava, Amelia, Mia, Mila, Sophie and Emily.
