Guy Fawkes birthday runs in the family

Shayne Rooney with his newborn son Cullen, the third generation of Rooneys born on November 5.

Guy Fawkes will be about more than fireworks for one Nelson family as three generations celebrate their birthday on the same day.

Dave Rooney, his son Shayne and the latest addition Cullen were all born on November 5.

The coincidences don't stop there, though. Shayne's wife Krystal, their daughter Isabelle, Krystal's father and Shayne's grandfather also share the same birthday, August 17.

Shayne said so many birthdays on the same days was "weird but exciting".

"We're a bit creeped out," he said. "Not many people have heard of so many family birthdays on the same days, so they're a bit surprised when we tell them.

"Guy Fawkes has always been a good day for me with it being my birthday, so now there'll be even more celebration."

He hoped all three generations would be able to celebrate together next year.

"It will be my 30th and Cullen's first birthday, so it will be a special day. We had three cakes at the last celebration with Krystal's father, so we might have to do the same next Guy Fawkes."

The family live in Nelson, while grandfather Dave lives in Hari Hari on the West Coast of the South Island.

Dave said Cullen's birth was very special.

"My son now knows how I felt when he was born," he said. "It's very exciting.

"People seem to think it's a bit spooky that we're all born on the same day, and that there's four generations with the same birthday through Shayne's wife, but we think it's special.

"I'm going to go up to Hokitika and pick my other son up and then go up to Nelson to see them as soon as possible."

According to Statistics New Zealand's birthday index, neither birthday is very popular nationwide.

November 5 is shared by 12,900 New Zealanders, the 106th most common birthday, while August 17 is shared by 12,600 New Zealanders, the 218th most common.