"Brave warrior" and "palm tree" are the translations that top last year's most popular Maori baby names.

"Maia" for girls and "Nikau" for boys topped the list of the top 20 most popular Maori baby names, released as part of this week's Maori Language Week.

The top Maori baby names have been released as part of Maori Language Week. Photo: File.

The list is a result of the first names of 19,000 Maori babies provided by the Department of Internal Affairs' Births, Deaths and Marriages Register. The analysis also found Maori girls are more likely to be given Maori names.

The five most popular baby names for girls in 2012 were Maia, Aria, Manaia, Anahera and Ataahua. For boys, they were Nikau, Wiremu, Kahurangi, Kauri and Nikora.

Births Deaths and Marriages Registrar general, Jeff Montgomery, says New Zealanders are always interested in names and this week is a great opportunity to release the top Maori ones.

'Names carry memories; they link back to your history your whakapapa. Maori names are unique in the world and it is not just Maori who are choosing Maori names for new additions to their whanau.

'It's also really important for new parents to register the names of their newborns with Births Deaths and Marriages. Birth registrations are the first step to creating a record for your child and their entitlement to the benefits of living in New Zealand.”

The Maori Language Commission welcomes the release of the names for Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, whose theme is Nga ingoa Maori, or Maori names.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M?ori chief executive Glenis Philip-Barbara says it is great to see a number of whanau and families giving their babies Maori names last year.

"Names connect people to places, and we'd like all New Zealanders to consider the wealth of connection that Maori names offer."

A smaller number of iwi specific names were identified, such as Mahinarangi (originally from the East Coast, and also Waikato) and Waimirirangi (from the far North).

'Many of our tipuna names will not feature on the list as they are names that are personal to whanau and hapu,” says Glenis.

Top 20 Maori names for babies in 2012

Girls

1. Maia
2. Aria
3. Manaia
4. Anahera
5. Ataahua
6. Aroha
7. Tia
8. Ariana
9. Kaia
10. Kahurangi
11. Maraea
12. Wiamarie
13. Tui
14. Amaia
15. Miriama
16. Awhina
17. Hana
18. Anika
19. Huia
20. Mareikura

Boys

1. Nikau
2. Wiremu
3. Kahurangi
4. Kauri
5. Nikora
6. Tane
7. Tamati
8. Rawiri
9. Anaru
10. Tai
11. Manaia
12. Tama
13. Mikaere
14. Te Ariki
15. Ariki
16. Te Koha
17. Hoani
18. Manawa
19. Tiare
20. Hemi