Maia and Nikau emerged as the top two Maori names for babies born last year in data put together for the first time by the Department of Internal Affairs.
The Registrar-General of Births Deaths and Marriages, Jeff Montgomery, put the list together for Maori Language Week.
The chief executive of Maori language commission Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori, Glenis Philip-Barbara, said the more popular names show that a new generation of mokopuna continue to be given names that are often unique to their own whanau, hapu and iwi. She hoped that the list would be published annually.
"It's great that Maori names were given to so many babies last year."
"Names connect people to place, and we'd like all New Zealanders to consider the wealth of connection that Maori names offer."