Brandwave

How popular isNerf?

In September 2026, people searched for Nerf by name about 1,020 times in New Zealand, a 13.3% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 0.82% of all New Zealand toy brand searches, placing Nerf eighth out of 12 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about toy brands, Nerf did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Nerf is the eighth most searched of 12 competitors and not listed in any AI answer.

  1. LEGOShare of searches 64.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. BarbieShare of searches 15.8%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. Hot WheelsShare of searches 8.8%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 9th
  4. ConnetixShare of searches 3.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. NerfShare of searches 0.82%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

+7 more

Nerf website (opens in a new tab)

Follow Nerf and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Top toy brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nerf did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. LEGO1st
  2. Melissa & Doug2nd
  3. Playmobil3rd
  4. Fisher-Price4th
  5. Connetix5th
  6. MAGNA-TILES6th
  7. VTech7th
  8. +2 more
  9. Barbie–
  10. Nerf–
  11. Hasbro–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Melissa & Doug4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • LEGO3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Connetix3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Playmobil3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • VTech2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Fisher-Price2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • MAGNA-TILES2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ravensburger2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hot Wheels1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Nerf0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about toy brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which toy brands compete with Nerf?

Nerf against toy brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Connetix, VTech, Nerf. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLEGOBarbieHot WheelsConnetixVTechFisher-PricePlaymobilNerfMAGNA-TILESHasbroRavensburgerMelissa & Doug
Oct 202560.7%17.7%9.4%4.6%2.3%1.3%1.2%0.77%0.75%0.5%0.4%0.35%
Nov 202565.7%16%8.1%2.4%2.7%1.3%1.2%0.9%0.66%0.39%0.3%0.33%
Dec 202571.7%12.6%8.1%1.4%2.2%0.98%0.82%0.77%0.57%0.33%0.34%0.23%
Jan 202675%11.7%7.2%0.93%1.6%0.82%0.68%0.65%0.42%0.52%0.31%0.24%
Feb 202671.1%13.8%7.7%1%1.8%1%1.1%0.74%0.72%0.48%0.32%0.21%
Mar 202666.9%16.4%8.5%1.6%1.7%1.1%1.2%0.73%0.71%0.58%0.3%0.28%
Apr 202670.5%13.7%8.4%1.4%1.8%0.95%1%0.67%0.53%0.53%0.33%0.23%
May 202670.5%14.7%7%1.6%1.9%0.88%0.95%0.74%0.6%0.49%0.41%0.23%
Jun 202669.5%15.1%7.8%1.6%1.9%0.85%0.93%0.6%0.6%0.49%0.38%0.23%
Jul 202667.4%14.8%8.5%2.1%2.1%0.95%1%0.77%0.86%0.62%0.51%0.29%
Aug 202669.1%14.7%8.2%1.8%1.9%1%1%0.67%0.66%0.36%0.45%0.25%
Sep 202664.5%15.8%8.8%3.5%2.4%1.1%0.95%0.82%0.8%0.58%0.48%0.27%

  1. 1.LEGO

    64.5%

    Held 1st. 80.4K estimated branded searches, -12.9% vs prior month. Share -4.6 points.

  2. 2.Barbie

    15.8%

    Held 2nd. 19.7K estimated branded searches, +0.56% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.

  3. 3.Hot Wheels

    8.8%

    Held 3rd. 11K estimated branded searches, +1% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  4. 4.Connetix

    3.5%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, +83.3% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.

  5. 5.VTech

    2.4%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 3K estimated branded searches, +13.8% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  6. 6.Fisher-Price

    1.1%

    Held 6th. 1.4K estimated branded searches, +5.2% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  7. 7.Playmobil

    0.95%

    Held 7th. 1.2K estimated branded searches, -11.9% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  8. 8.Nerf

    0.82%

    Held 8th. 1K estimated branded searches, +13.3% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  9. 9.MAGNA-TILES

    0.8%

    Held 9th. 1K estimated branded searches, +13.6% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  10. 10.Hasbro

    0.58%

    Moved from 11th to 10th. 720 estimated branded searches, +50% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  11. 11.Ravensburger

    0.48%

    Moved from 10th to 11th. 600 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  12. 12.Melissa & Doug

    0.27%

    Held 12th. 340 estimated branded searches, +3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Nerf and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Nerf

11 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Nerf changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Nerf in New Zealand rose from 900 to 1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nerf’s share of searches among toy brands in New Zealand held steady, from 0.77% to 0.82%.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand toy brands in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Connetix overtook VTech to rank 4th among toy brands in New Zealand, with 3.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Barbie gained share of searches among toy brands in New Zealand, from 14.7% to 15.8%.

  3. In September 2026, Hot Wheels gained share of searches among toy brands in New Zealand, from 8.2% to 8.8%.

  4. In September 2026, LEGO lost share of searches among toy brands in New Zealand, from 69.1% to 64.5%.

  5. In September 2026, Hasbro rose from 11th to 10th among toy brands in New Zealand.

  6. In September 2026, Ravensburger fell from 10th to 11th among toy brands in New Zealand.

How are Nerf’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nerf’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • nerf
  • nerf set
  • nerf toy

Do you work for Nerf? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Nerf your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

Start free