mmg.com.au

The top five most popular girls’ names during the past year were Mia, Ruby, Olivia, Chloe and Charlotte.

The boys’ names of the year were Jack, William, Oliver, Ethan and Noah.

‘‘Mia leapt ahead two spots to oust Ruby from last year’s top spot, with 428 newborn girls given the name, while Ruby finished a close second with 406,’’ Acting Attorney-General Andrew McIntosh said.

‘‘Jack maintained last year’s number one position, with 470 babies given the name in 2011.’’

There was not much change in the popularity of girls’ names, with the same names as last year filling the top five but in different positions.

Ethan and Noah crept into the top five boys names, bumping Thomas and Joshua down a few spots.

Jacob and Riley dropped out of the boys top 20, making way for Harry and Oscar. Georgia and Scarlett entered the girls top 20 — at the expense of Jessica and Emma.

Echuca’s Stacey and Ralph Siede said they picked their first born daughter’s name, Mia Rose, together.

‘‘We had a couple of names picked out, and then when she came out we said, ‘yep, she looks like a Mia’. Everyone loves it,’’ Mr Siede said.

Mrs Siede said Mia’s name meant ‘mine’ and ‘desperately wanted’, which fitted well with their daughter.