Arkansas's most popular baby names in 1988

In the year 1988, the state of Arkansas witnessed a surge in baby names that were both popular and meaningful. Among baby girls, Jessica, Ashley, and Amanda were the most commonly chosen names, while Christopher, Joshua, and Justin topped the list of baby boy names.

These names were not only fashionable but also reflected the cultural and social values of the time. Parents were drawn to names that represented strength, beauty, and individuality. Whether inspired by popular culture or personal preferences, the names chosen in Arkansas in 1988 continue to be cherished by families and individuals alike.

Most popular baby girl names in Arkansas in 1988

In 1988, the most popular baby girl names in Arkansas were Jessica with 561 occurrences, Ashley with 489 occurrences, Amanda with 313 occurrences, Brittany with 304 occurrences, and Sarah with 300 occurrences. These names were the top choices for parents in Arkansas during that year.

Jessica

561 baby girls born in Arkansas (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

489 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Amanda

313 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Brittany

304 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Sarah

300 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Whitney
233 baby girls born in Arkansas (1988) named Whitney
Whitney is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is "white island" or "white meadow".
Amber
228 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Tiffany
224 baby girls born in Arkansas (1988) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Heather
210 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Jennifer
197 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Megan
193 baby girls born in Arkansas (1988) named Megan
The name Megan is of Welsh origin and means "pearl". It is a shortened version of the name Margaret, which also means "pearl".
Samantha
186 baby girls born in Arkansas (1988) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Kayla
174 baby girls born in Arkansas (1988) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Lauren
174 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Stephanie
170 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Elizabeth
142 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Rachel
140 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Courtney
137 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Brittney
130 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.
Emily
129 baby girls born in Arkansas (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.

Most popular baby boy names in Arkansas in 1988

In 1988, the most popular baby boy names in Arkansas were Christopher, Joshua, Justin, Michael, and James. Christopher was the most popular name with 508 babies given that name, followed closely by Joshua with 478 babies. Justin was the third most popular name with 438 babies, while Michael and James rounded out the top five with 436 and 385 babies respectively. These names were likely chosen by parents for their traditional and timeless qualities.

Christopher

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

478 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
Justin

438 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
Michael

436 baby boys born in Arkansas (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

385 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Matthew
369 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Brandon
310 baby boys born in Arkansas (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
289 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
William
273 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
Robert
263 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
David
245 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
Andrew
238 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
Jonathan
222 baby boys born in Arkansas (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.
Cody
212 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Cody
The name Cody is of Irish origin and means "helper" or "cushion".
Joseph
209 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jacob
207 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Jacob
The name Jacob means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that was borne by one of the patriarchs of the Old Testament.
Jeremy
191 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Zachary
187 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Daniel
174 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Aaron
172 baby boys born in Arkansas (1988) named Aaron
The name Aaron means "mountain of strength" or "enlightened" and is of Hebrew origin. It is a biblical name, borne by the brother of Moses in the Old Testament. Aaron is a popular name for boys in many cultures.