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Stats SA's annual Recorded Live Births report is now available online, detailing the most registered names and surnames of South African babies born in 2017.
Compiled using data from the Department of Home Affairs' national birth registration system in 2017, the report also highlights registrations as far back as 1995 right to 2016.
After 3 years in the top spot, Junior has been dethroned and replaced by Enzokuhle as the most popular name in the country – for both boys and girls.
Dlamini is once again, for the fourth year in a row, the most registered surname in South Africa.
As per usual here are the top national boys names, girls names and surnames, with a special mention of most popular names per province.
Also see:
Top boys names in South Africa 2017
1. Enzokuhle
Meaning: Expected to do great things
Origin: Zulu/Xhosa
2. Lethabo (8)
Meaning: Joy
Origin: Sotho
3. Melokuhle (6)
Meaning: Beautiful one
Origin: Xhosa
4. Lubanzi (10)
Meaning: upper layer, flat and clear surface (usually directed or linked to the love parents have for the child)
Origin: Xhosa
5. Amogelang (9)
Meaning: Welcome the child or situation (usually the girls family telling the guys family)
Origin: Sotho
6. Siyabonga (7)
Meaning: We are grateful
Origin: Zulu
7. Bandile (4)
Meaning: We have another boy
Origin: Xhosa
8. Junior (1)
Meaning: Young
Origin: Latin
9. Bokamoso
Meaning: Future
Origin: Sotho
10. Mpho
Meaning: Gift
Origin: Sotho
Compared to last year's list, the top 10 has undergone some major changes, with Junior falling from its top spot to 8th place. Bokamoso and Mpho return to the list after making 2014's top 10, while the top name, Enzokuhle, takes the number 1 spot for the first time. The margin between first and second place was quite small, with only 8 births separating the top two slots.
The number in brackets indicates the position of the name on the 2016 top South African baby names list.
Top girls names in South Africa 2017
1. Enzokuhle
Meaning: Expected to do great things
Origin: Zulu/Xhosa
2. Melokuhle (6)
Meaning: Beautiful one
Origin: Xhosa
3. Amahle (3)
Meaning: Beautiful girls (can sometimes be linked to the clan like Amacirha Amahle)
Origin: Xhosa/Zulu
4. Lethabo
Meaning: Joy
Origin: Sotho
5. Amogelang (10)
Meaning: Receive or accept
Origin: Tswana
6. Omphile
Meaning: Given
Origin: Sotho
7. Lesedi
Meaning: Light
Origin: Sotho
8. Rethabile
Meaning: We are glad/ happy
Origin: (Sotho)
9. Luthando (4)
Meaning: It's love
Origin: Xhosa
10. Thandolwethu (5)
Meaning: Our love
Origin: Xhosa/Zulu
Girls names have also seen quite a change. Precious and Princess have been knocked out of the top ten after two years of occupying the number 1 and 2 slots, respectively. Amahle and Thandolwethu seem to be firm favourites, claiming a spot in the top 10 since 2014.
Enzokuhle, Lethabo, Omphile are brand-new entries.
- Also see: South Africa's top baby names for 2014
Top most registered surnames of babies in South Africa 2017
1. Dlamini (1)
2. Nkosi (2)
3. Ndlovu (3)
4. Khumalo (4)
5. Sithole (5)
6. Mokoena (6)
7. Mkhize (7)
8. Mahlangu
9. Ngcobo (8)
10. Mthembu (10)
Only two changes to this list, Ngcobo moves from 8th in 2016 to it's current 9th position, and Mahlangu returns to the list at number 8.
Source: Recorded Live Births: 2017-2018, Statistics South Africa, published 27 August 2018.
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