California's most popular baby names in 1976

In the year 1976, California witnessed a surge of popular baby names that topped the charts for both boys and girls. Michael and Jennifer were the most popular baby names for boys and girls, respectively. Michael, a name of Hebrew origin, means "who is like God?" and has been a popular name for centuries. Jennifer, on the other hand, is a Cornish name that means "white wave" and has been a common name for girls since the 1960s.

Following closely behind were David and Jason for boys, and Amy and Michelle for girls. David, a name of Hebrew origin, means "beloved" and has been a popular name for boys for many years. Jason, a name of Greek origin, means "healer" and has been growing in popularity since the 1970s. Amy, a name of French origin, means "beloved" and has been a common name for girls since the 1960s. Michelle, a name of French origin, means "who is like God?" and has been a popular name for girls since the 1950s.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1976

According to data from 1976, the most popular baby girl names in California were Jennifer, Amy, Michelle, Maria, and Melissa. Jennifer was the most popular name with 5570 babies given that name, followed by Amy with 2218 babies, Michelle with 2121 babies, Maria with 1922 babies, and Melissa with 1901 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time.

Jennifer

5570 baby girls born in California (1976) 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.
Amy

2218 baby girls born in California (1976) named Amy
The name Amy means "beloved" or "dearly loved" in French and Latin. It is a popular name for girls and has been used since the Middle Ages.
Michelle

2121 baby girls born in California (1976) named Michelle
Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin. The name means "who is like God" or "gift from God." It is a variation of the name Michael, which comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God." The name Michelle has been used in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century and has gained popularity over time.
Maria

1922 baby girls born in California (1976) named Maria
Maria is a name of Latin origin, derived from the name Mariam or Miriam, which means "bitterness" or "sorrow". It is a common name in many cultures and is often associated with the Virgin Mary in Christianity.
Melissa

1901 baby girls born in California (1976) named Melissa
The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." It was a popular name in ancient Greece and is often associated with sweetness and industriousness.
Heather
1856 baby girls born in California (1976) 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.
Jessica
1794 baby girls born in California (1976) 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.
Lisa
1729 baby girls born in California (1976) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Christina
1683 baby girls born in California (1976) named Christina
The name Christina is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ". It is a feminine name and is commonly used in English-speaking countries.
Elizabeth
1631 baby girls born in California (1976) 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.
Nicole
1484 baby girls born in California (1976) named Nicole
Nicole is a feminine given name of Greek origin, meaning "victory of the people". It is a popular name in English-speaking countries and has been in use since the 1930s.
Sarah
1438 baby girls born in California (1976) 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.
Angela
1404 baby girls born in California (1976) named Angela
The name Angela is derived from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger of God". It is a feminine name that has been used in various cultures and languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and German. Angela is often associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and grace.
Kimberly
1293 baby girls born in California (1976) 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.
Rebecca
1253 baby girls born in California (1976) named Rebecca
Rebecca means "captivating" or "knotted cord" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament.
Stephanie
1242 baby girls born in California (1976) 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.
Shannon
1218 baby girls born in California (1976) named Shannon
The name Shannon is of Irish origin and is derived from the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. The name means "wise river" or "old river". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.
Veronica
1200 baby girls born in California (1976) named Veronica
The name Veronica is of Latin origin and its meaning is "true image" or "she who brings victory". It is derived from the name Berenice, which means "bearer of victory". In Christian tradition, Veronica is the name of the woman who wiped the face of Jesus on his way to crucifixion and his image was miraculously imprinted on her veil.
Laura
1189 baby girls born in California (1976) named Laura
The name Laura is of Latin origin and means "bay laurel". It was a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Rome. The name has been popular in many countries and cultures throughout history.
Monica
1128 baby girls born in California (1976) named Monica
The name Monica is of Latin origin and means "advisor" or "counselor".

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1976

In 1976, the most popular baby boy names in California were Michael, David, Jason, Christopher, and Robert. Michael was the most popular name with 6,180 babies given that name, followed closely by David with 4,350 babies. Jason and Christopher were also popular choices with 4,348 and 3,761 babies named respectively. Robert rounded out the top five with 3,366 babies given that name. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends of the time.

Michael

6180 baby boys born in California (1976) 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.
David

4350 baby boys born in California (1976) 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.
Jason

4348 baby boys born in California (1976) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Christopher

3761 baby boys born in California (1976) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Robert

3366 baby boys born in California (1976) 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.
Daniel
3161 baby boys born in California (1976) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
James
2851 baby boys born in California (1976) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John
2834 baby boys born in California (1976) 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.
Matthew
2743 baby boys born in California (1976) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Brian
2675 baby boys born in California (1976) named Brian
The name Brian is of Irish origin and means "strong, virtuous, and honorable". It is a popular name for boys in Ireland and has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.
Jose
2348 baby boys born in California (1976) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Joseph
2093 baby boys born in California (1976) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Eric
2057 baby boys born in California (1976) named Eric
The name Eric is of Scandinavian origin and means "eternal ruler" or "ruler of all". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures.
Joshua
2032 baby boys born in California (1976) 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.
Ryan
2026 baby boys born in California (1976) named Ryan
The name Ryan is of Irish origin and means "little king" or "illustrious". It is a popular name for boys in English-speaking countries.
Richard
1923 baby boys born in California (1976) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Anthony
1749 baby boys born in California (1976) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Steven
1744 baby boys born in California (1976) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
William
1647 baby boys born in California (1976) 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.
Juan
1602 baby boys born in California (1976) named Juan
The name Juan is a Spanish variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious".