Alabama's most popular baby names in 1988

In the year 1988, the state of Alabama saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, the most popular names were Jessica, Ashley, and Brittany. These names were likely inspired by popular culture at the time, as Jessica was the name of the lead character on the hit TV show "Murder, She Wrote," while Ashley was the name of a character in the popular movie "Gone with the Wind." Brittany, on the other hand, may have been influenced by the popularity of pop star Britney Spears, who was just starting to gain fame at the time.

For baby boys, the most popular names in Alabama in 1988 were Justin, Christopher, and Joshua. These names are all rooted in biblical tradition, with Joshua being the name of a prominent figure in the Old Testament and Justin and Christopher both meaning "follower of Christ." These names were also popular across the United States at the time, reflecting a larger trend towards traditional, classic names.

Most popular baby girl names in Alabama in 1988

In 1988, Jessica was the most popular baby girl name in Alabama with 954 newborns receiving this name. Ashley was not far behind with 901 newborns being named Ashley. Brittany was the third most popular name with 585 newborns receiving this name. Amanda and Tiffany round out the top five most popular baby girl names in Alabama in 1988 with 506 and 502 newborns receiving these names, respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends of the time.

Jessica

954 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Jessica
The name Jessica is of Hebrew origin and means "God beholds" or "God sees". It is derived from the name Yiskah in the Old Testament, which was the name of a daughter of Haran and sister of Milcah and Iscah. The name Jessica has been in use since the 16th century and became popular in the 20th century.
Ashley

901 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Ashley
The name Ashley is of English origin and means "ash tree meadow". It is a unisex name that was originally more commonly given to boys, but has become more popular for girls in recent years.
Brittany

585 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Brittany
The name Brittany is derived from the region of Brittany in France. Its meaning is uncertain, but it is believed to come from the Latin word "Britannia," which means "Britain" or "of the Britons." It is also thought to be related to the Celtic word "breton," which means "from Brittany." The name is commonly given to girls in English-speaking countries.
Amanda

506 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Amanda
The name Amanda is of Latin origin, meaning "lovable" or "worthy of love". It was first used as a name in the 17th century and became popular in the 19th century. The name is often associated with kindness, compassion, and a friendly personality.
Tiffany

502 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Heather
335 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Heather
The name Heather is of English origin and is derived from the name of a flowering plant that grows in Scotland. The name is often associated with the color purple and is said to symbolize admiration, good luck, and protection.
Amber
324 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Amber
The name Amber is derived from the fossilized tree resin of the same name. It is believed to originate from the Arabic word "anbar," which means ambergris or amber. The name is often associated with the color of the gemstone, which ranges from a pale yellow to a deep orange-brown. The name Amber has been used for both boys and girls, but it is more commonly given to girls. The name is often associated with warmth, light, and energy.
Kayla
320 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Jennifer
318 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Jennifer
The name Jennifer is of Welsh origin and means "fair and smooth". It was first used as a given name in the United States in the 20th century and became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
Sarah
314 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Sarah
The name Sarah means "princess" in Hebrew. It is a popular name in many cultures and is often associated with grace, beauty, and kindness.
Lauren
297 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Lauren
The name Lauren is of English origin and means "bay laurel" or "crowned with laurel". It is a feminine name that has been popular since the 1940s.
Whitney
292 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Whitney
Whitney is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is "white island" or "white meadow".
Kimberly
276 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Kimberly
The name Kimberly means "from the wood of the royal forest" or "royal fortress meadow". It is of Old English origin and was first used as a given name in the 1940s.
Mary
275 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Mary
Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth
260 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.
Courtney
258 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Courtney
The name Courtney is of English origin and means "from the court". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to girls.
Stephanie
250 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Stephanie
The name Stephanie is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a feminine name that has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 20th century.
Emily
242 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Emily
The name Emily means "rival" or "industrious" and is of Latin origin. It became popular in the 19th century and is still a commonly used name today.
Brittney
220 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Brittney
Brittney is a variant spelling of the name Brittany, which is derived from the name of the region in France known as Bretagne. The name Brittany means "from Brittany" or "the Britons," referring to the Celtic people who once inhabited the area. The name has been popular in the United States since the 1970s.
Rachel
206 baby girls born in Alabama (1988) named Rachel
The name Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means "ewe" or "female sheep". It is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and has been used since biblical times. The name is often associated with qualities such as beauty, grace, and kindness.

Most popular baby boy names in Alabama in 1988

In 1988, the most popular baby boy names in Alabama were Justin, Christopher, Joshua, Michael, and James. Justin was the most popular name with 930 babies given that name, followed closely by Christopher with 921. Joshua came in third with 850 babies named that, while Michael and James rounded out the top five with 740 and 729 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time, as well as traditional and family names.

Justin

930 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Justin
The name Justin is of Latin origin and means "just, upright, righteous." It was a popular name among early Christians and has been used throughout history by various notable figures.
Christopher

921 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Joshua

850 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Joshua
The name Joshua means "God is salvation" or "Yahweh is salvation" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name and was the name of one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan. Joshua later became the successor to Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Michael

740 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Michael
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
James

729 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William
630 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named William
The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.
Matthew
604 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Brandon
545 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Brandon
The name Brandon is of English origin and is derived from the Old English words "brom" meaning "broom" or "gorse" and "dun" meaning "hill". Therefore, the name Brandon means "hill covered in broom or gorse".
John
494 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named John
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.
Robert
468 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Robert
The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.
Jonathan
456 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Jonathan
The name Jonathan means "gift of God" or "God has given" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, appearing in the Old Testament as the name of King Saul's son and close friend of David.
David
450 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named David
The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.
Joseph
386 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Andrew
360 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Andrew
The name Andrew means "manly" or "warrior" and is of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek name Andreas, which comes from the word "andrós" meaning "man". Andrew is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and is often used in Christian traditions due to the apostle Andrew being one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.
Jeremy
357 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Daniel
350 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Charles
298 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Charles
The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.
Timothy
296 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Timothy
The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.
Nicholas
286 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Nicholas
The name Nicholas is derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), which means "victory of the people". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures, and is often associated with Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants.
Anthony
260 baby boys born in Alabama (1988) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".