ACE, Batman, Blaze and Charisma - these are just some of the unusual names parents conjured up for their newborns last year.

More Aussie parents are opting for unique baby names, according to new data from pregnancy and parenting website BabyCenter.

While Oliver, Amelia, Lucas and Lily were the most popular baby names of 2012, website editor Danielle Townsend compiled a list of the most weird and wonderful names given last year.

Dragon, Justus, Porch and Ever made the list.

Along with Notorious, Cash, Lychee and Bandit.

''Choosing a name that is unique is a goal for many parents,'' Ms Townsend said.

''But some parents will make a choice that ensures their child won't share their name with anyone in their class, their school or even their state.''

Adelaide mother Carolyn Johnson, 40, said she definitely wanted a name that stood out for her son.

''My husband, Andy, wanted "Bear" and we had planned Ace Bear for our first child (now 4) but she was a girl so we named her Esmee.

"When we found out Ace was a boy, we couldn't resist. We like something a bit different."

Ms Townsend said there is also a growing trend for parents to name their children after a place.

She said Camden, Kingston, Tibet, Havana, London and Boston all came into the world in Australia last year.

Melbourne mother Nancy Easton, 34, named her 12-week-old daughter after her favourite town in France - Annecy.

"Annecy Belle is named after a French town my husband and I love. We went there in 2010. It's a beautiful place, very romantic," she said.

"We call her Annie for short sometimes, but love her full name."

Ms Townsend said: ''However unusual a baby's name, after the initial announcement most people will agree that a child grows into their name.''

A more ordinary nickname or middle name can always be used as an everyday name if the child is uncomfortable with the attention their name brings as they grow up.

''The lure of the celebrity also remained strong in 2012, with Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom's baby Flynn continuing to boost that name's popularity and Benjamin rising five places since Gisele Bundchen gave her little boy the name.