For 50 years parents in New South Wales have been giving kids the same four middle names
There are plenty of big decisions that new parents face, from picking a car seat or capsule, what cot to go with, and, of course, picking a name for their little one.
But there's not just one name to consider: middle names also need to be contemplated too. For some people, a middle name is a way to honour family traditions or just because it sounds nice, but for others, it doesn't matter at all and it's not really important.
So, when it comes to middle names, there's actually some very popular choices across the board and in New South Wales it's clear parents are sticking to the classics – and have been for 50 years.
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For 50 years, parents from New South Wales have given their children some of the same middle names. Getty
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New data from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages has found that for the last 50 years, the names John and James have been popular choices for boys.
In 2024, the name James topped the list for middle names, while John came in at second place.
William came in at number three, then Michael and Robert rounding out the top five most popular middle names.
Meanwhile for girls, the names Anne and Jane have remained popular for the last five decades, although they're not in the top spots on the list.
The top middle name for girls in New South Wales for girls is Rose, followed by Grace.
Places three and four on the list are Mae and May respectively, showing that parents are favouring the modern twist on the beloved name.
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Jane comes in at fifth, while Anne, the other name which has been a top choice for parents for years, follows close behind at sixth.
Both middle names for boys and girls are names that are considered longstanding classics and popular in the '50s, which could mean a lot of couples today are honouring grandparents with their choice.
Classic family names, like George for boys (number eight on the list) are also ones that are timeless, and may have been passed on through generations.
The top middle names for boys in New South Wales
- James
- John
- William
- Michael
- Robert
- David
- Thomas
- George
- Joseph
- Alexander
The top middle names for girls in New South Wales
- Rose
- Grace
- Mae
- May
- Jane
- Anne
- Louise
- Elizabeth
- Maree
- Marie
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