If you’re pregnant, trying for a baby, or just love a good baby name list, you’ve probably spent hours trawling through the lists of Australia’s most popular names. And so have we!

But the names at the top of the list aren’t necessarily the most interesting ones, especially if you’re looking for a unique moniker for your future bub. So we took a deep dive into the archives and more recent baby names lists too look at some of the rare baby names making waves.

Take Hazel and Theodore. Both were sitting just inside the top 100 in Australia’s rankings in 2010. Today, they’re firmly among the country’s most popular names. So what are today’s Hazel and Theodore?

We’ve gone digging through Australia’s baby-name data, including more than 70 years of NSW records and the latest data from around the country, to find the names showing similar signs. And we’ve come up with 20 names to watch for 2027.

Some are already climbing quickly and others are still flying under the radar. And a few are old favourites that look like they’re getting ready for another turn in the spotlight.

From names already knocking on the door of #1 to vintage choices quietly making a comeback, these are the names the data says Australian parents should be watching.

Baby Names That Could Be Australia’s Next Number Ones

While these aren’t necessarily the newest baby names on the scene, they’re the ones with the scale, national reach and staying power that could eventually challenge Australia’s current favourites.

1. Noah

If you’re looking for Australia’s next boys’ #1, Noah is the obvious contender.

Oliver has held the national #1 spot for 12 consecutive years, but Noah is creeping closer.

In 2025, Noah was #1 in NSW and Victoria, as well as Western Australia and Tasmania, and appeared in the Top 10 in every jurisdiction reporting data. NSW recorded 542 Noahs compared with 446 Olivers, while Victoria had 511 Noahs compared with 464 Olivers.

That’s not just a popular name – that’s a serious challenger.

Forecast: Noah is our strongest candidate to eventually take the boys’ #1 spot.

2. Amelia

The girls’ race is similarly interesting. Charlotte remains the national #1, but Amelia is right behind her and continues to perform strongly across Australia.

She was #2 in both NSW and Victoria in 2025 and #1 in the Northern Territory and has been consistently popular.

Forecast: Amelia is the girl most likely to challenge Charlotte again.

3. Theodore

This one has already had an extraordinary journey. Theodore was sitting just inside the top 100 baby names in 2010 before climbing into the Top 10.

It is now #3 nationally and was #5 in Victoria in 2025, with 350 registrations.

Theodore has the combination of traditional appeal, nickname potential and broad national popularity that makes a future #1 spot pretty likely.

4. Hazel

Hazel has been gaining momentum. After starting just inside the top 100 in 2010 it’s now a top 10 name.

In Victoria, Hazel was #3 in 2025 with 325 registrations. It also featured strongly across NSW, SA, WA, Tasmania and the ACT.

It’s proof that a name doesn’t have to start out as an obvious favourite to eventually become one.

5. Isla

Isla is already a major favourite, but its national reach makes it one to watch for a future run at #1.

It was #3 nationally in the latest national rankings and topped the girls’ list in Western Australia in 2025. It was also #3 in NSW and #5 in Victoria.

It’s short, familiar and works across generations.

Verdict: already big, but with the staying power to get even bigger.

The Breakout Baby Names

While these names aren’t necessarily going to hit top of the pops in baby name popularity lists, we’re predicting a big rise in popularity over the next few years.

6. Elias

Elias jumped from #106 to #79 in the national rankings, a 27-place rise. Victoria had this gorgeous name at #89 in 2025.

It has the traditional feel parents seem to be gravitating towards, while Eli gives it an easy, modern nickname.

7. Vincent

Vincent made one of the biggest jumps in the boys’ rankings, rising 37 places from #118 to #81.

It’s vintage without feeling dusty, and Vince or Vinnie gives it a completely different personality.

8. Fletcher

Fletcher is particularly interesting because it isn’t just showing up in one state’s data. It made the NSW Top 100 for the first time in 2025, recording the highest debut of any new boys’ name. Rory, August and Micah were the other new boys’ entries.

Victoria had Fletcher at #80. That’s exactly the kind of early cross-state movement we’d expect from a future breakout.

9. Lyla

Lyla is our girls’ acceleration pick. It jumped from #129 to #88 nationally. It isn’t yet a Top 50 name, which makes that rise even more interesting.

10. Eliana

Eliana climbed 19 places nationally and is now firmly within striking distance of the Top 50. Victoria had Eliana at #70 in 2025.

The Names That Are Quietly Climbing

This is arguably the most useful list for parents who want to be ahead of the trend rather than following it.

The trick is finding names that aren’t already dominating the top 50 but have the characteristics of names that later exploded.

Think Hazel and Theodore. They were around #90 in 2010, then things changed very quickly.

11. Rory

Rory has been making its move – from #116 to #99 nationally. It also broke into the NSW Top 100 in 2025 and was #76 in Victoria.

Short, familiar and not overly common. A very good “I liked it before everyone else” candidate.

12. Lainey

Lainey entered the national top 100 at #100, up from #124. It also sits comfortably within the current preference for softer, nickname-style girls’ names.

Lainey isn’t everywhere yet. That’s exactly why we’re watching it.

13. Elodie

Elodie is another new national Top 100 entrant. It’s sitting at #92 nationally and #74 in Victoria.

It has the slightly French, vintage feel that’s increasingly appealing without being so unusual that parents have to explain it.

14. Amara

Amara is another new arrival to the national top 100, at #97. It’s short, melodic and familiar without being overused.

It feels like the kind of name that could move quite a long way before most people realise it’s happening.

15. Mabel

Mabel is particularly interesting because it also has one foot in the comeback category. It entered the NSW Top 100 in 2025 and was #92 in Victoria.

It’s vintage, distinctive and increasingly fits the style Australian parents seem to be returning to.

The Comeback Baby Names

This is where the really old data becomes useful. NSW has records going back more than 70 years, so we can see exactly what happens when a name goes from popular to unfashionable and then starts creeping back.

And the pattern is fascinating.

Names like Hazel, Theodore, Arthur and Florence have shown just how powerful the vintage revival can be. Theodore and Hazel only just made it into the top 100 in 2010 before making it into the top 10.

So which names look like they’re beginning a similar journey?

16. Maggie

Maggie entered the NSW Top 100 in 2025, while Victoria had it at #77. It fits beautifully with the current revival of names such as Millie, Elsie, Lottie and Rosie.

The interesting thing is that Maggie doesn’t feel particularly old-fashioned anymore.

17. Celine

Celine was one of four girls’ names to enter the NSW Top 100 in 2025. It’s much earlier in its journey than Hazel or Florence, which is precisely what makes it interesting.

This is a genuine watch-and-see name rather than an established trend.

18. August

August is one of the new boys’ names entering the NSW Top 100 in 2025. It also has the grand, vintage quality that has worked so well for Theodore and Arthur. It’s still unusual enough to stand out, and the nickname Augie is just adorable.

19. Micah

Micah is another of NSW’s new 2025 Top 100 boys’ names. It’s biblical, short and familiar, but hasn’t reached the saturation levels of some of the more established biblical names.

That gives it plenty of room to grow.

20. Rose

Rose isn’t a brand-new name and that’s precisely why it’s interesting.

It’s the kind of classic that can quietly move from grandmother’s generation back into the nursery.

And the broader data is already showing renewed interest in traditional middle and first names, like Rose, Grace, Mae, May and Jane.

Rose could be one of those slow-burn classics that becomes fashionable without ever feeling trendy.

So, which 20 names are we watching?

Potential future #1s

Noah
Amelia
Theodore
Hazel
Isla

Breakout names

Elias
Vincent
Fletcher
Lyla
Eliana

Get ahead of the crowd

Rory
Lainey
Elodie
Amara
Mabel

Comeback names

Maggie
Celine
August
Micah
Rose

Some more contenders …

The top 10 gets all the attention, but the most interesting names might be sitting much further down the list.

Because a name at #80 isn’t necessarily an #80 name. It could be a #20 name in three years.

That’s what happened with names like Hazel and Theodore. And that’s why names such as Fletcher, Lyla, Lainey, Elodie and Mabel are worth watching now.