PEOPLE pick them on a whim or they can be steeped in family tradition, but once there’s a pick, they usually stick.
In a trend materialising in the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages records, and anecdotally in maternity wards, there is a shift towards more “traditional names” for bubs.
The Leader has obtained the list of most popular baby names in Tamworth for the last year which shows a few trends shining through.
The regal Charlotte can be crowned top of the pops for girls born in Tamworth in the last year, while Archie shot to the number one ranking for the boys.
The next most favoured female names were Ivy, Harper, Lucy and Ruby while the next best boys were William, Archer, Ashton and Daniel.
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Narrabri midwife Tahnee Hibbens gave birth to first child in Tamworth recently.
Working on the wards, she’s seen many a couple labour over monikers what they’ll mean for their newborn
“It’s a big decision, they’re stuck with it for the rest of their lives,” Mrs Hibbens said.
She’s seen a shift towards, what she’s called, “traditional names” like Jack and Ivy.
She also noted many parents will have names selected before birth.
Her and partner Matt had just one name picked for their first-born, but chose to keep the sex a mystery until birth.
“We didn’t have a girl’s name at all, so that was quite tough,” she said. Luckily, the name Lenny William fit the bill for their bouncing baby boy.
The first name came on a whim and with a quick consensus, while William was a nod to both of Tahnee’s grandfathers.
While Lenny didn’t get a look in on Tamworth’s most popular baby names, there could be a lot more Archies and Charlottes filling classrooms soon with Tamworth hospital on track to top its 2017 birthing tally.
By August, there had been 629 births at Tamworth hospital for 2018.
There was only 601 by August 2017.
While 2017 saw 985 newborns welcomed in Tamworth, the city has slipped down the list of most fertile towns in NSW.
What’s in a name? Write a letter to the editor. Click this link to have your say.
The slide comes despite the maternity ward delivering a record 1000 babies.
According to the NSW registry of births, Tamworth was fifth in the state on the list of top baby towns and suburbs in 2006.
By 2017, the country music capital had lost its footing as a relatively reproductive region falling to 32nd on the list, behind Sydney suburbs Kogarah and Ashfield.
Top ten Tamworth boy names
- Archie
- William
- Archer
- Ashton
- Daniel
- Finn
- Harry
- Hudson
- Logan
- Noah
Top Ten Tamworth girl names
- Charlotte
- Ivy
- Harper
- Lucy
- Ruby
- Amelia
- Evelyn
- Frankie
- Grace
- Isla
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
