Names that peaked in New Zealand in the 1980s

Names whose highest recorded position in New Zealand's published list falls in the 1980s, 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.

30 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

• Daniel

  Highest recorded position #1 among boys in New Zealand in 1980, across a record running 1954–2023.

• Anna

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in New Zealand in 1980, across a record running 1956–2021.

• Samantha

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in New Zealand in 1989, across a record running 1978–2015.

• Amanda

  Highest recorded position #4 among girls in New Zealand in 1985, across a record running 1961–1997.

• Amy

  Highest recorded position #4 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1975–2012.

• Christopher

  Highest recorded position #4 among boys in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1954–2012.

• Nicole

  Highest recorded position #5 among girls in New Zealand in 1987, across a record running 1969–2007.

• Melissa

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1967–2002.

• Nicholas

  Highest recorded position #8 among boys in New Zealand in 1983, across a record running 1954–2011.

• Timothy

  Highest recorded position #10 among boys in New Zealand in 1981, across a record running 1954–2005.

• Adam

  Highest recorded position #13 among boys in New Zealand in 1986, across a record running 1965–2023.

• Jonathan

  Highest recorded position #15 among boys in New Zealand in 1982, across a record running 1957–2013.

• Stacey

  Highest recorded position #15 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1973–1996.

• Natalie

  Highest recorded position #16 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1965–2014.

• Joseph

  Highest recorded position #18 among boys in New Zealand in 1988, across a record running 1954–2023.

• Renee

  Highest recorded position #19 among girls in New Zealand in 1985, across a record running 1975–2003.

• Claire

  Highest recorded position #23 among girls in New Zealand in 1980, across a record running 1954–2013.

• Julia

  Highest recorded position #26 among girls in New Zealand in 1983, across a record running 1970–2001.

• Louise

  Highest recorded position #27 among girls in New Zealand in 1980, across a record running 1954–1994.

• Victoria

  Highest recorded position #28 among girls in New Zealand in 1987, across a record running 1956–2019.

• Aimee

  Highest recorded position #31 among girls in New Zealand in 1983, across a record running 1979–2006.

• Katherine

  Highest recorded position #32 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1955–2001.

• Katie

  Highest recorded position #33 among girls in New Zealand in 1981, across a record running 1976–2014.

• Erin

  Highest recorded position #36 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1975–2004.

• Sara

  Highest recorded position #44 among girls in New Zealand in 1986, across a record running 1977–1992.

• Christina

  Highest recorded position #47 among girls in New Zealand in 1988, across a record running 1954–2002.

• Anita

  Highest recorded position #49 among girls in New Zealand in 1980, across a record running 1968–1989.

• Ashley

  Highest recorded position #53 among boys in New Zealand in 1989, across a record running 1984–1995.

• Brendan

  Highest recorded position #53 among boys in New Zealand in 1982, across a record running 1966–1991.

• Leon

  Highest recorded position #82 among boys in New Zealand in 1982, across a record running 1973–2023.