Names that peaked in New Zealand in the 1950s

Names whose highest recorded position in New Zealand's published list falls in the 1950s, with at least 3 recorded years on each side of that year.

Scoped to one registrar: NZ Department of Internal Affairs — Most Popular Baby Names. A name can be at its height here a generation before or after it is elsewhere, and this says only when it peaked in New Zealand — never when it peaked generally, which is not a thing any single source can show.

14 names, selected from the 2,577 names in the catalogue with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Based on official statistics from national registrars. Data sources · Methodology

Source: NZ Department of Internal Affairs · All New Zealand names

• Karen

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1986.

• Jennifer

  Highest recorded position #4 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–2003.

• Stephen

  Highest recorded position #5 among boys in New Zealand in 1958, across a record running 1954–1997.

• Linda

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1979.

• Wendy

  Highest recorded position #8 among girls in New Zealand in 1958, across a record running 1954–1981.

• Anthony

  Highest recorded position #11 among boys in New Zealand in 1959, across a record running 1954–2005.

• Helen

  Highest recorded position #12 among girls in New Zealand in 1958, across a record running 1954–1990.

• Wayne

  Highest recorded position #14 among boys in New Zealand in 1959, across a record running 1954–1984.

• Debra

  Highest recorded position #17 among girls in New Zealand in 1959, across a record running 1955–1973.

• Carol

  Highest recorded position #19 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1971.

• Ross

  Highest recorded position #25 among boys in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1985.

• Jane

  Highest recorded position #28 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1988.

• Vicki

  Highest recorded position #30 among girls in New Zealand in 1959, across a record running 1954–1976.

• Derek

  Highest recorded position #76 among boys in New Zealand in 1958, across a record running 1954–1970.