Baby Names / Children’s Names

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baby is an awesome responsibility

When two or more children have the same name.

Children’s names should never be changed by the teacher for the reason of distinguishing children from one another.

Why? Because when taking to a child a teacher should be looking at the child anyway. When children look at the teacher they will know if the teacher is talking to them or not. For a child who is blind or has low vision, the teacher may gently touch the child on the arm or shoulder to acknowledge that they are talking to them.

Some teachers may choose to call children by their first and last name, or first and middle names. However, if they do this to some children (for example to all the children who are Olivia) then they should do this for all children at the early childhood service. Children that have the same name as other children at the early childhood service should not be treated as less unique or as a problem for the teacher/s.

When a child’s name is hard for a teacher to pronounce

Good teachers make time to learn to pronounce the names of their children. They may ask parents for help.

It is not acceptable for any teacher to give a child a different name. It is hurtful to a child to call them by a name that is not theirs and is not what they are known as in their family.

Girl and boy baby names

It has been a societal tradition for baby names to be chosen by parents based on their child’s gender. A girl’s name for a girl and a boy’s name for a boy (see examples in the lists below). However, today gender boundaries are not what they were. Girls may have a traditional boy’s name and boy’s may have a traditional girls name. As well parents are choosing names for their baby that have no gender association.

Baby names: Some advice for parents

naming baby is an awesome responsibility

For baby names, the litmus test of knowing if you’ve picked a good name is whether you can answer these two questions with a YES:

1) Do you feel comfortable and pleased with your choice?

2) Do you believe it is a good choice for your child’s lifetime?  

Naming your baby early, before birth, is recommended as a way of helping to bond with baby and for baby to be accepted as part of your family.

Consider the following: 

  • Can the name be altered or shortened to form a nasty or hurtful word?  Think about name calling and bullying for when your child is school-aged.
  • Will the name conjure up negative feelings every time you say it?  Avoid the names of people you don’t like, even if you like the name.  And don’t name baby with the same name as a family member or friend who may be at risk of falling out with you sometime.  Why?  Well children can pick up on a parent’s emotions and will notice if the name has a negative association for you. 

The 10 Most Popular Girls’ Names based on Births Registered in NZ

 2016201720182019202020212022
1.  OliviaCharlotteCharlotteAmelia Isla Charlotte 
2.CharlotteHarperIslaCharlotte Charlotte Isla 
3.IslaIslaOliviaIsla Amelia Amelia 
4.HarperOliviaAmeliaOlivia Olivia Olivia 
5.EllaAvaHarperRuby Willow Ava 
6.AmeliaAmeliaEllaSophie Harper Willow 
7.EmilyMiaIsabellaHarper Ava Lily 
8.MiaMilaEmilyMila Lily Isabella 
9.SophieSophieMiaWillow Sophie Mila 
10.AvaEmilyAvaAva Ella Ella 

The 10 Most Popular Boys’ Names based on Births Registered in NZ

 2016201720182019202020212022
1.OliverOliverOliverOliver Oliver Oliver 
2.JackJackJackNoah Jack Noah 
3.WilliamNoahNoahLeo Noah Jack 
4.MasonWilliamLeoJack Leo Leo 
5.JamesHunterHunterLucas Lucas George 
6.  HunterJamesGeorgeGeorge George Charlie 
7.NoahGeorgeWilliamWilliam Charlie Lucas 
8.LucasMasonLucasJames Thomas Theodore 
9.LeoLucasJamesThomas William William 
10.MaxArloMasonCharlie Hunter Luca 

Girl Baby Names: Māori, Popular, and Unique  

Māori girls’ names

Popular girls’ names

Unique girls’ names

Akumatua

Alex

Belinda

Amiria

Anna

Bridie

Anahera

Ashley

Carla

Ani

Brianna

Crystal

Aperira

Bella

Darlene

Aroha

Brittany

Dulcie

Atamarie

Brooke

Ethne

Emere

Caitlin

Eloise

Eriki

Courtney

Evelyn

Erina

Carly

Felicity

Heeni

Daniella

Freya

Hine

Devon

Genevieve

Huhana

Emily/Emma

Giselle

Ihanga

Evie/Eve

Gloria

Iria

Ella

Harmony

Irihapeti

Francesca

Heidi

Kiri

Gabrielle

Hope

Kura

Georgia

Hermoine

Lani

Grace

Ila

Maa Rei

Hannah

Ingrid

Mahuika

Holly

Iris

Makareta

Isabel

Janna

Makuku

Imogen

Juliet

Mamae

Jamie

Lilia

Marama

Jenna

Lola

Mihirangi

Jasmine

Maisie

Mirama

Julia

Mabel

Moana

Jessica

Monica

Manaia

Kaitlin

Nadine

Neina

Kelly

Neva

Neni

Kate/Katie

Nyssa

Newea

Laura

Opal

Ngaio

Lauren

Oralia

Nga Mimi

Lily

Ocean

Okitu

Lisa

Princess

Marika

Maddie

Pandora

Mere

Meg

Pearl

Omaka

Molly

Quinta

Pania

Natalie

Querida

Pouriwa

Nicole

Rhoda

Puhi

Natasha

Rosina

Ramarie

Olivia

Ruby

Rangi

Paige

Serenity

Rea

Penelope/Penny

Stella

Reka

Phoebe

Samara

Rere

Rachel

Scarlett

Riana

Rebecca

Tabitha

Roha

Rhiannon

Tallulah

Ruihi

Rose/Rosie

Thea

Raumati

Samantha

Talia

Rangimarie

Sophie

Varina

Te Kahurangi

Tamara

Valda

Te Pura

Tania

Valisa

Tui

Taylor

Willow

Urangi

Tiana

Xylia

Uru Manau

Victoria

Yvonne

Waauru

Yasmine

Zenia

Whina

Zoe

Zaira

Boy Names: Māori, Popular, and Unique 

Maori boys’ names   

Popular boys’ names    

Unique boys’ names  

Apera

Andrew

Addison

Arakanara

Aden

Alfred

Arapeta

Blake

Barnaby

Arama

Brian

Barret

Ariki

Ben

Brannon

Atama

Callum

Carson

Atua

Caleb

Clark

Ekara

Daniel

Davis

Hohepa

David

Drew

Erorangi

Dylan

Dugald

Eru

Dominic

Dwight

Eruera

Ethan

Edmund

Hakara

Eric

Eldwin

Hamonga

Evan

Ewart

Hangakore

Finn

Forbes

Hani

Freddie

Fyfe

Hanu

Gus

Gilbert

Hemi

Hamish

Hadley

Hirini

Harry

Harold

Huatare 

Henry

Heath

Ianga

Isaac

Hugh

Ikei

Ian

Ivan

Kiki

Jacob

Jamel

Kingi

Jayden

Jed

Kiri

Joshua

Jonas

Koro

James

Julias

Mahora

Jack

Keane

Maipi

Jason

Keeley

Mairo

Keegan

Kirwin

Maka

Lachlan

Lawrence

Manu

Liam

Lawton

Matewa

Lucas

Leighton

Mirama

Luke

Leonard

Mokihi

Levi

Lloyd

Morehu

Michael

Malcolm

Natana

Mason

Marsden

Niwa

Matthew

Mathias

Nikau

Max

Merrick

Ngakau

Noah

Morris

Okiara

Nathan

Ned

Otikoro

Nicholas

Noel

Paipau

Oliver

Orson

Paiwai

Parker

Pearce

Pakanga

Patrick

Preston

Pita

Paul

Quigley

Rana

Reece

Quinn

Rangi 

Regan

Randal

Raru

Richard

Reg

Rawiri

Robert

Renny

Rongo  

Ryan

Roderick

Ruru

Samuel

Roydon

Taaura

Stuart

Saul

Tahiwai

Stephen

Sherwin

Taipo

Thomas

Sinclair

Tama

Tim

Sterling

Tamati

Toby

Terence

Tane

Troy

Thaddeus

Te Koha (the gift)

Tyler

Thornley

Te Wakaiti

Vince

Tristram

Tangaroa

Wayne

Venn

Tawera

Warren

Warwick

Tipene

William

Webster

Tua

Xavier

Willard

Uamutu

Zach

Wyatt

Wiremu

Zane

Xylon

Witi

Zeke

Yates

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