Most popular baby names in Queensland revealed

The top 10 boy and girl baby names for 2021 were revealed for Queensland in the past week, with Isla and Oliver topping the lists. Isla overtook long-running favourite Charlotte, while Oliver was the most popular boy’s name for the ninth consecutive year.

First time entrants to the top 100 boys’ names in 2021 included Koa (a name of Hawaiian origin meaning brave, bold, fearless and valiant) and Huxley (from old English origins), while Octavia entered the top 100 girls’ names for the first time in RBDM’s records, which date back to 1960. There were two Octavias in ancient Rome who were half-sisters.

The Top 10 baby names in Queensland in 2021, according to data from the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages were:

Girls:

1 Isla (347)

2 Olivia (320)

3 Charlotte (307)

4 Willow (288)

5 Mia (286)

6 Ava (285)

7 Grace (279)

8 Amelia (276)

9 Matilda (224)

10 Lily (215)

 Boys:

1 Oliver (506)

2 Noah (419)

3 Henry (363)

4 William (347)

5 Theodore (331)

6 Hudson (302)

7 Jack (296)

8 Charlie (293)

9 Elijah (277)

10 Leo (274)

 In revealing the top baby names of last year, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Shannon Fentiman, said it was the first time that Isla had topped the charts.

“In contrast, Oliver was the most popular baby boy name for the ninth consecutive year,” Minister Fentiman said.

“There’s going to be a lot of Olivers running around school playgrounds for the next couple of decades.

“As was the case last year, Oliver was comfortably the most popular boys’ name, again well ahead of Noah.”

Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) data showed that Henry displaced Jack in third place, while Charlie replaced Thomas in the only change to the boys’ top 10.

Matilda and Lily were newcomers to the girls’ top 10, replacing Sophie and Harper.

“Charlotte had been the most popular girl’s name for five of the previous six years, but dropped to third favourite in 2021, behind Isla and Olivia,” Minister Fentiman said.

The name Isla is believed to be of Scottish origin, derived from an island called Islay. Australian actress Isla Fisher would be one of the most famous people to bear the name.

Minister Fentiman reminded all prospective parents in 2022 to register their newborns.

“Registering your child is so important – it establishes their legal identity and gives children access to important life documents as they get older,” she said.