Top Māori baby names of 2023-2024

1 July 2024

Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs has released the top Mâori baby names for 2023/2024.

This year, Aroha/Te Aroha was the top name for kōtiro. Ariki/Te Ariki was the most popular name for tama.

164 pēpi were named Aroha/Te Aroha and 111 were named Ariki/Te Ariki.

These were also the top Māori pēpi names last year.

A full list of the top names is available at SmartStart.

Te Tari Taiwhenua has published a list of the top Mâori baby names since 2013. Last year was the first year that this list was released to coincide with Matariki, the Mâori New Year.

Our approach involves a thorough review of each name's origins and a comprehensive evaluation by internal advisors and Te Atamira Taiwhenua, our kaumâtua group. The chosen names are then sent to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission, for a final review.

The ingoa featured in this list are those registered with Te Tari Taiwhenua from 10 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. These dates are linked to the Tangaroa lunar calendar period, associated with Matariki. These dates align with the advice provided by the Matariki Advisory Committee.

Our process

1. We develop an initial long list by extracting all the names from our birth registration data that meet the following conventions:

• The vowels are limited to I, e, a, o, u (and their long forms)
• Consonant choice is limited to p, t, k, m, n, ng, wh, r, h, w
• All names must end in a vowel

2. All names also must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Appear in an authoritative Māori dictionary either as a full word, or in the case of compound names (e.g., Hineteuru), the component parts should appear, or
• Check the names for macrons. If the name has been written with a macron it is likely to be intended as a Māori name and should be ‘tested’ against the guidelines.

3. Names that meet the above criteria, but which have multiple origins are removed.

• This is on the basis that removal of the proportion of occurrences that are non-Māori would mean the name no longer appears as a top Māori name.

4. Our list is discussed with our kaumātua and then our recommendations are checked with Te Taura Whiri.

Tama - Boys

Ingoa	Kaute
Ariki/Te Ariki	111
Wiremu	86
Rāwiri	80
Mikaere	65
Nikau	63
Koa	62
Manaia	62
Manaaki	59
Kiwa	45
Kaitoa	45

Kōtiro - Girls

Ingoa	Kaute
Aroha/Te Aroha	164
Amaia	110
Maia	103
Anahera	85
Moana	70
Manaia	68
Ataahua	54
Marama	51
Atarangi	41
Tui	39

Media contact:

Media Desk
Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs
Mobile: +64 27 535 8639
Email: media@dia.govt.nz