Sophie and Jack are on course to be New Zealand's most popular baby names this year.
But for staying power they're way behind Kate/Catherine and James, which remain in the top three for the 20th straight year.
They're the findings of Eleanor Burkin, a retired teacher from Tauranga,who's been tracking name trends based on New Zealand Herald birth notices for more than two decades.
Traditional names usually dominate the top 10, but each year throws up its batch of the unusual.
This year's includes Ardeth (a character from the movie The Mummy), Benaiah, (a Biblical term meaning 'God has built'), Jazyah (a poll-tax historically required of infidels by Muslim conquerors) and Vancouver for boys.
Quirky girls' names included Calliope (from Greek mythology, meaning 'beautiful voice'), Devynee (meaning 'poet' or 'loved') and Zion (the Jewish homeland/heaven, usually masculine).
Burkin has noticed a recent trend towards surnames as first names, especially for boys, such as Cooper, Findley, Hunter or Jackson. The trend is less pronounced for girls, but evident in names such as Maddison, McKenzie, Taylor.
Names slipping in the popularity stakes include Emma, Olivia, Ruby, Benjamin, Samuel, Caleb and Reuben. Names on the rise are Isabella, Harrison, Luca, Noah, and Zachary.
An Australian report this year found 66 per cent of newborns were named after a family member, 17 per cent after friends, 17 per cent after celebrities and 12 per cent after historical figures.
Tennis star Lleyton Hewitt propelled Mia, his daughter's name, to number one on the Australian girls list, while Jack heads the boys' list.
