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Most popular Māori baby names for 2016 released
MEDIA RELEASE
14 September 2017
Most popular Māori baby names for 2016 released
Te Tari Taiwhenua The Department of Internal Affairs has released the top 20 Māori baby names for 2016 in association with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2017.
Included for the first time are the top 20 Māori baby names for children born overseas.
The most popular Māori baby names in 2016 for girls, both in New Zealand and overseas, was Maia. For boys Nikau was most popular within New Zealand, while Kai topped the overseas list.
Each name was carefully researched by Te Taura Whiri I te reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission, to confirm it was a Māori name.
Top 20 Māori names for girls and boys are:
| Kōtiro / girls | Tama / boys | ||
| Aotearoa / New Zealand | Rāwāhi / Overseas | Aotearoa / New Zealand | Rāwāhi / Overseas |
| 1. Maia | Maia | 1. Nikau | Kai |
| 2. Ariana | Ariana | 2. Ari | Manaia |
| 3. Manaia | Hei | 3. Kauri | Ari |
| 4. Anahera | Manaia | 4. Manaia | Nikau |
| 5. Hana | Aroha | 5. Te Ariki | Tamati |
| 6. Amaia | Anahera | 6. Mikaere | Tane |
| 7. Aroha | Hana | 7. Ihaia | Ariki |
| 8. Ataahua | Kaea | 8. Rawiri | Kauri |
| 9. Tia | Noa | 9. Hemi | Tai |
| 10. Ria | Tia | 10. Tai | Tama |
| 11. Tui | Tiare | 11. Kahurangi | Hemi |
| 12. Kaea | Koa | 12. Kai | Kaea |
| 13. Kara | Makaia | 13. Nikora | Matiu |
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