Arkansas's most popular baby names in 1996

Arkansas, the Natural State, is known for its beautiful landscapes and friendly people. In 1996, the state welcomed many new babies who were given some of the most popular names of the year. For baby girls, the top names were Hannah, Emily, and Ashley, while for baby boys, the most popular names were Jacob, Tyler, and Austin.

Hannah, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace," held the top spot for baby girls in Arkansas. Emily, a name of Latin origin meaning "rival," and Ashley, a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow," followed closely behind. For baby boys, Jacob, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter," was the most popular name, followed by Tyler, a name of English origin meaning "maker of tiles," and Austin, a name of English origin meaning "great." These names continue to be popular choices for parents in Arkansas and around the country.

Most popular baby girl names in Arkansas in 1996

In Arkansas, 1996, the most popular baby girl names were Hannah, Emily, Ashley, Jessica, and Sarah. Hannah was the most popular name with 279 babies given that name, followed closely by Emily with 247 babies. Ashley, Jessica, and Sarah were also popular names with 232, 217, and 210 babies given those names, respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time.

Hannah

279 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Hannah
The name Hannah means "grace" or "favor" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that was borne by the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament. The name has been popular among Christians for centuries and is still commonly used today.
Emily

247 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Ashley

232 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Jessica

217 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Sarah

210 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Taylor
205 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Taylor
The name Taylor is of English origin and is derived from the occupation of a tailor, who was responsible for making and altering clothing. It is a unisex name, meaning it can be used for both boys and girls. The name Taylor is often associated with qualities such as creativity, independence, and determination.
Madison
187 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Madison
The name Madison is of English origin and has two possible meanings. One interpretation is that it means "son of Matthew," while another suggests it means "gift of God." It became a popular name for girls in the 1980s and 1990s, likely due to its association with the character Madison in the movie "Splash."
Kayla
165 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Brittany
163 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Haley
157 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Haley
The name Haley is of English origin and means "hay clearing". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for females.
Samantha
155 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Courtney
150 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Lauren
145 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Alexis
138 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Alexis
The name Alexis is derived from the Greek name Alexios, which means "defender" or "helper". It is a unisex name that has been used for both boys and girls.
Morgan
137 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Morgan
The name Morgan is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Old Welsh name Morcant, which means "sea circle" or "sea chief". It was originally a masculine name but has become more commonly used as a feminine name in recent years. The name is associated with strength, leadership, and intelligence.
Shelby
134 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) named Shelby
The name Shelby is of English origin and its meaning is "willow farm".
Megan
128 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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".
Rachel
124 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Elizabeth
112 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Amber
107 baby girls born in Arkansas (1996) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Arkansas in 1996

In Arkansas, 1996, the most popular baby boy names were Jacob, Tyler, Austin, Michael, and Christopher. Jacob was the most popular name with 325 babies given that name, followed closely by Tyler with 323 babies. Austin came in third with 308 babies, while Michael and Christopher rounded out the top five with 299 and 298 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time, and may still be popular choices for parents in Arkansas today.

Jacob

325 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Tyler

323 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Tyler
The name Tyler is of English origin, and its meaning is "maker of tiles". It is derived from an occupational surname for a person who made or laid tiles. The name Tyler gained popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, and it has remained a popular name for boys.
Austin

308 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Austin
The name Austin is of English origin and means "great, magnificent". It is derived from the Latin name Augustus, which was a title given to Roman emperors. The name became popular in the Middle Ages and has remained a popular name choice for boys to this day.
Michael

299 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Christopher

298 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
William
287 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
James
258 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Joshua
251 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Brandon
240 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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".
Matthew
239 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Zachary
236 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
John
228 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Cody
226 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Cody
The name Cody is of Irish origin and means "helper" or "cushion".
Justin
205 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Andrew
187 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Nicholas
175 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.
Hunter
173 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Hunter
The name Hunter is of English origin and it means "one who hunts". It is typically used as a masculine name and is associated with qualities such as strength, courage, and resourcefulness.
Joseph
164 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Dylan
162 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) named Dylan
The name Dylan is of Welsh origin and its meaning is "son of the sea". It is derived from the Welsh word "dy" which means "great" and "llanw" which means "tide" or "flow". The name has been used as a given name for centuries and has been popularized in modern times by various famous individuals.
David
161 baby boys born in Arkansas (1996) 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.