The most popular baby names in Western Australia for 2025 have been officially released, with the short and sweet duo of Noah and Isla once again claiming the top spots. The perennial favourites have solidified their reign, continuing a trend that has seen them dominate classroom rolls for years.
Top Names Hold Their Ground
Data from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages shows that 209 baby boys were named Noah in 2025, while 150 baby girls received the name Isla. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Isla has been the number one choice for girls. For Noah, it represents a successful defence of the top position it first reached in a tie during 2024, after spending several years in second place.
Canning Vale parents Cherry and Mark Xiao are among the many families who chose the name Isla for their daughter, now ten months old. "It was the only name that my husband liked out of my list of names," Ms Xiao explained. Despite knowing its popularity, the name stuck. "We were like, it's really popular, so we'll just hold out and see if any other names pop up for us in the next seven months. It didn't, so Isla it was." The happy, smiley baby now also answers to the nickname Lala.
New Entries and Notable Shifts
The annual list reveals some interesting movements within the top ten rankings. For girls, Grace, Hazel, and Sofia emerged as new entrants compared to the previous year, while Harper and Violet lost ground. A significant shake-up occurred for boys, with Leo plummeting from second place in 2024 to 12th in 2025. William, meanwhile, climbed into the tenth position.
Traditional names continue to prove their enduring appeal, featuring prominently in the top twenty. Classics like James and George remained strong for boys, alongside Elsie, Ivy, Daisy, and Evelyn for girls. Further down the list, Florence and Sienna tied for 20th place for girls, each given to 78 babies, while Cooper and Kai shared the 20th spot for boys, with 91 each.
Regional Variations and Historical Context
Heath Bennett, the acting registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages, emphasised that choosing a name is a significant decision for parents. The registry's data also highlights distinct regional trends across WA. In the Goldfields-Esperance region, for instance, Billy and Levi supplanted Noah as the most popular choice for boys. The Wheatbelt-Midwest saw a three-way tie for girls between Grace, Isla, and Remi.
Looking back, the popular names of today are part of an ever-evolving story. Twenty years ago, Ella and Jack led the lists, while fifty years ago, Michelle and Michael were the clear favourites. "2025 favourites Isla and Noah still have a long way to go to catch up with Margaret and John, WA's most popular names on record," Mr Bennett noted.
The registry recorded a total of 33,232 births in Western Australia in 2025, an increase from the 30,825 registered in 2024.
