If you want to develop your listening skills, try the tasks below as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the news story.
You can use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
for the second year in a row – for two years, with no year in between, so in this context, 2024 and 2025
for the third year running – for three years, with no year in between, so in this context, 2023, 2024 and 2025
register – to put someone’s name on an official list
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Who announced the most popular baby names in 2025?
- For how many years has Isla been the most popular girl’s name?
- For how many years has Noah been the most popular boy’s name?
- How many babies were named Isla in 2025? And Noah?
- Since when have Olivia and Jack been in the top 10 names?
- How many different names were registered in 2025?
- How many births were there in 2025?
- What was the top Māori girl’s name?
- What was the top Māori boy’s name?
- What must happen when babies are born in New Zealand?
- How long can a baby’s name be?
News story
In January the Department of Internal Affairs announced the most popular baby names in 2025. The most popular girl’s name was Isla for the second year in a row, and the most popular boy’s name was Noah for the third year running. There were 179 babies named Isla and 244 babies named Noah in 2025.
The top 10 girls’ names were Isla, Charlotte, Amelia, Hazel, Olivia, Lily, Lucy, Mila, Aria, and Mia.
The 10 most popular boys’ names were Noah, Luca, Oliver, George, Theodore, Leo, Charlie, Jack, Elijah, and Theo.
Many of these names have been popular for decades. For example, Olivia and Jack have been in the top 10 names since the 1990s. If you listen to ‘Baby names’ from this website in 2018, you can compare the order of popularity then with now. However, while these names are popular, there are many others – there were 19,457 different names registered in 2025, out of 58,000 births.
The Department of Internal Affairs released the top Māori baby names around Matariki last year. The top 5 girls’ names were Aroha or Te Aroha, Maia, Moana, Anahera, and Atarangi. The top 5 boys’ names were Ariki or Te Ariki, Wiremu, Koa, Mikaere, and Rangi.
When babies are born in New Zealand, their name needs to be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages (part of the Department of Internal Affairs). This is a legal requirement. The baby’s name usually includes a last name and one or more first names. Parents can choose any name, although it cannot be longer than 100 characters and cannot be an official title or rank, such as King or Princess.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. Who announced the most popular baby names in 2025?
The Department of Internal Affairs
b. For how many years has Isla been the most popular girl’s name?
Two
c. For how many years has Noah been the most popular boy’s name?
Three
d. How many babies were named Isla in 2025? And Noah?
179 babies named Isla and 244 babies named Noah
e. Since when have Olivia and Jack been in the top 10 names?
Since the 1990s
f. How many different names were registered in 2025?
19,457
g. How many births were there in 2025?
58,000
h. What was the top Māori girl’s name?
Aroha or Te Aroha
i. What was the top Māori boy’s name?
Ariki or Te Ariki
j. What must happen when babies are born in New Zealand?
Their name needs to be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages
k. How long can a baby’s name be?
No longer than 100 characters.