data stories · trends · forecasts
Insights from Australian baby names
Every year, around 300,000 babies are registered in Australia. Across 95 years of state BDM records we can trace cultural shifts, royal influence, predictable rises and dramatic falls. Five data stories worth a read.
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family
Royal Influence Tracker
When Prince George was born in 2013, did George spike in Australia? What about Charlotte, Louis, Archie? Time-series analysis of royal birth → naming impact.
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history
Names that vanished
Bruce, Sheila, Norma, Kev — names that defined a generation, now barely registered. Which Australian classics have effectively gone extinct?
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forecast
Predictions for 2026 & beyond
Linear regression on the past 5 years of NSW BDM data forecasts who'll be top in 2026, who's rising, who's falling out of the top 50.
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patterns
Alphabet popularity by decade
In the 1980s, names starting with J ruled (Jessica, Jennifer, Jason). Today it's O and M (Oliver, Olivia, Matilda). Track every letter through 95 years.
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geography
Trend leaders & laggards
When a name catches on in Australia, which state adopts it first — and which is last to follow? VIC and QLD often diverge by 3-5 years.