The tiny population size of the Australian Capital Territory provides two bonuses for those waiting to see the popular names – not only are they the first to get their name data out, but the full list of names is effectively the complete name data, showing all names which were used at least five times.

Biggest Movers Up

1. Lara +57
2. Mila +53 at least
3. Phoebe +53 at least
4. Ivy +52
5. Alexis +51
6. Elsie +46 at least
7. Felicity +46 at least
8. Heidi +46 at least
9. Eleanor +43
10. Evie +43

Also Up

Alexa, Alisha, Annabelle, April, Aria, Ayla, Bianca, Brooklyn, Catherine, Charlotte, Eliza and Isobel, Ellen and Elena, Esther, Holly, Isla, Jasmine, Laura, Lilah, Lola, Lacey, Lily and Lilly and Liliana, Lucinda, Freya, Amaya and Maya, Mia, Mackenzie, Molly, Madeleine, Matilda, Nina, Olive, Paige, Poppy, Rose, Ruby, Saskia, Scarlett, Willow, Zara, Zoe

Up Slightly

Audrey, Charlie, Emma, Grace, Layla, Lucy, Maddison

Socialite Lara Bingle’s reality TV programme, Being Lara Bingle, was panned by the critics and didn’t rate particularly well, but Lara has soared 57 places up the charts in Canberra. Parents who chose it are not necessarily Bingle fans, but at the very least are fans of her name (rhyming Zara also made significant gains). Sound-alikes Ivy and Evie also went up.

Biggest Movers Down

1. Erin -72 at least
2. Madison -68
3. Savannah -67 at least
4. Violet -67 at least
5. Annabel -55
6. Stella -50
7. Maeve -49 at least
8. Mikayla -49 at least
9. Emilia, Gabriella, Gabrielle, Harper, Leila, Lillian and Madeline -41 at least

Also Down

Aaliyah, Abigail and Abby, Addison, Alice, Amber, Amelie, Anna, Beatrix, Caitlin, Chelsea, Claire, Darcy, Eloise, Harriet, Hayley, Elizabeth and Isabel and Isabelle and Isabella, Ella, Evelyn, Georgia, Jennifer, Kayla, Leah, Miranda, Olivia, Penelope, Samantha, Sarah, Skye, Stephanie, Taylor

Down Slightly

Alexandra, Amy, Ellie, Emily, Eva, Hannah, Imogen, Sienna, Sofia and Sophia

Annabelle is up, but Annabel down; meanwhile both Isabel and Isabelle suffered. Isabella also went down slightly. Only Annabelle was the belle of the ball. Yes, spelling matters. As an another example, Madison plummeted 68 places, while Maddison rose slightly.

No Change in Position

• Sophie #3
• Amelia #5
• Chloe #6
• Ava #11
• Jessica #23
• Bella #77
• Jade #77

New to the List 

• Mila #48
• Elsie #55
• Felicity #55
• Heidi #55
• Aria #62
• Lola #62
• Lacey #68
• Nina #68
• Alisha #77
• Ayla #77
• Brooklyn #77
• Elena #77
• Lilah #77
• Olive #77
• Saskia #77
• Amaya #95
• Catherine #95
• Ellen #95
• Esther #95
• Freya #95
• Liliana #95

More signs that L names are still doing well: Lola, Lilah, Lacey and Liliana have joined the charts. With Eleanor jumping 43 places, Ellen and Elena made their debut.

Felicity, like Eleanor and Ivy, was listed on Nameberry as one of its popular names chosen by Nameberries in 2012; maybe there are some Canberraberries out there?

Vintage favourites Esther, Elsie and Olive joined the list, as did modern choices like Mila and Brooklyn. Fashionable Freya and Saskia made their mark, perhaps with help from Australian actresses Freya Stafford and Saskia Burmeister.

Two name choices new to the list that seemed very 2012: Catherine, the name of the Duchess of the Cambridge (much in the news), and Nina, as the weather phenomenon La Niña came to an end this year, after three years of cooler and wetter conditions.

Back on the List

• Phoebe (48)
• April (77)
• Bianca (77)
• Poppy (77)

Gone from the list

• Erin #35
• Savannah #40
• Violet #40
• Maeve #58
• Mikayla #58
• Emilia #66
• Gabriella #66
• Gabrielle #66
• Harper #66
• Leila #66
• Lillian #66
• Madeline #66
• Abby #77
• Miranda #77
• Penelope #77
• Skye #77
• Taylor #77
• Aaliyah #92
• Beatrix #92
• Darcy #92
• Jennifer #92
• Kayla #92
• Leah #92

Lillian and Leila made way for Liliana (new) and Layla (rising); Madeline was rejected in favour of Madeleine. Harper and Penelope were two celebrity baby names which didn’t resonate with Canberrans. Darcy as a girl’s name was apparently a flash in the pan rather than a harbinger of unisex things to come, and Savannah was dumped in favour of her sister Isla, who rose in the rankings.