Zoe Moffatt
The name Oliver continued its supreme reign in 2023, recording its tenth consecutive year being on top of the boys naming pile for parents in Victoria.
The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria released the 100 most popular names for boys and girls born last year on January 26, with Amelia claiming the top title for girls.
Sunbury resident Eliza Davenport was one of 514 parents in Victoria to name their child Oliver.
She said it was one of the most beautiful names in her and her husband Andrew’s eyes so they didn’t mind it was popular.
“Oliver is our first child through IVF and is our miracle baby,” she said.
“It’s such a beautiful name with a cute nickname of Ollie so it’s not a surprise many parents love the name.
“My husband and I looked through hundreds of names when we first found out we were pregnant. We tossed up between Arthur and Oliver as we felt they were beautiful elegant names.”
Eliza said they wanted to choose a name that could incorporate her English heritage and her husband’s Lebanese heritage.
“We wanted to find a name that would work for both cultures and sound beautiful with a Lebanese last name as well but tied in with my English heritage.
“We decided to choose his name the minute he was born between Arthur and Oliver and when I gave birth I just knew he was our little Ollie.”
Being their first child, Eliza said they are currently in the process of adopting, and look forward to choosing a name reflective of their future child.
“Because of our IVF struggle we decided not to have any further biological children and are currently in the process of adopting.
“Our future child’s name will reflect their biological parents and their culture as well as a name that we also love.”
While the name Oliver has a clear hold over the hearts of Victorian parents, it is yet to break the record run by the name John, who was the longest running top baby name for boys for 23 years, from 1929 to 1951.
