Names of US

California's most popular baby names in 1977

In the year 1977, California witnessed a surge of popular baby names that dominated the state. For baby girls, the name Jennifer took the top spot, followed by Michelle and Jessica. These names were a reflection of the pop culture of the time, with Jennifer being inspired by the character played by Jennifer Aniston in the popular TV show "Friends", and Michelle being a nod to the first lady at the time, Michelle Obama.

For baby boys, Michael was the most popular name in California in 1977. This classic name has been a favorite for decades and was followed closely by Jason and David. These names were popular in the 70s and continue to be favored by parents today, showing that some names truly stand the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1977

In 1977, the most popular baby girl names in California were Jennifer, Michelle, Jessica, Melissa, and Sarah. Jennifer was the most popular name with 5543 babies being given that name. Michelle, Jessica, and Melissa followed closely behind with 2238, 2227, and 2191 babies being named after them, respectively. Sarah came in fifth place with 1897 babies given that name.

  1. Jennifer

    5543 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  2. Michelle

    2238 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  3. Jessica

    2227 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  4. Melissa

    2191 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  5. Sarah

    1897 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  6. Maria

    1867 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  7. Heather

    1806 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  8. Elizabeth

    1762 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  9. Christina

    1756 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  10. Lisa

    1735 baby girls born in California (1977) named Lisa

    The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".

  11. Amy

    1621 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  12. Nicole

    1596 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  13. Angela

    1377 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  14. Kimberly

    1375 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  15. Stephanie

    1335 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  16. Kelly

    1299 baby girls born in California (1977) named Kelly

    The name Kelly is of Irish origin and means "bright-headed" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, meaning it can be given to both boys and girls. The name has been popularized by its use as a surname and has been used as a given name since the 20th century.

  17. Monica

    1196 baby girls born in California (1977) named Monica

    The name Monica is of Latin origin and means "advisor" or "counselor".

  18. Veronica

    1179 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  19. Rebecca

    1156 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

  20. Shannon

    1136 baby girls born in California (1977) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1977

Based on the data from California in 1977, Michael was the most popular name for baby boys with 6322 babies given that name. Following closely behind were Jason and David with 4427 and 4425 babies respectively. Christopher and Robert were also popular choices with 3956 and 3363 babies given those names. These were the top five most popular baby boy names in California in 1977.

  1. Michael

    6322 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  2. Jason

    4427 baby boys born in California (1977) named Jason

    The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".

  3. David

    4425 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  4. Christopher

    3956 baby boys born in California (1977) named Christopher

    The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."

  5. Robert

    3363 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  6. Daniel

    3329 baby boys born in California (1977) named Daniel

    The name Daniel means "God is my judge".

  7. Brian

    2940 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  8. James

    2935 baby boys born in California (1977) named James

    The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".

  9. Matthew

    2877 baby boys born in California (1977) named Matthew

    Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".

  10. John

    2815 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  11. Ryan

    2487 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  12. Joshua

    2442 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  13. Jose

    2324 baby boys born in California (1977) named Jose

    The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".

  14. Joseph

    2302 baby boys born in California (1977) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  15. Richard

    2095 baby boys born in California (1977) named Richard

    The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".

  16. Eric

    2031 baby boys born in California (1977) 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.

  17. Anthony

    1881 baby boys born in California (1977) named Anthony

    The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".

  18. Kevin

    1836 baby boys born in California (1977) named Kevin

    The name Kevin is of Irish origin and means "handsome" or "gentle birth". It is derived from the Irish name Caoimhín, which is composed of the Gaelic words "caomh" meaning "kind" or "gentle" and "gin" meaning "birth".

  19. Steven

    1684 baby boys born in California (1977) named Steven

    The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.

  20. Jeremy

    1664 baby boys born in California (1977) named Jeremy

    The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".