California's most popular baby names in 1988

In the year 1988, California was buzzing with new parents eagerly choosing names for their newborns. The top baby girl names of the year were Jessica, Ashley, and Jennifer, which were all popular choices across the country. These names were likely inspired by popular culture, as Jessica was the name of the lead character in the hit TV show "Who's the Boss?", and Ashley was the name of a character in the popular movie "Gone with the Wind". Jennifer had been a popular name for several years, likely due to the fame of actress Jennifer Aniston.

For baby boys, the top names were Michael, Christopher, and Daniel. These names have remained popular over the years, with Michael being a classic name that has been popular for decades. Christopher and Daniel were both popular biblical names, with Christopher meaning "bearer of Christ" and Daniel meaning "God is my judge". These names were likely chosen for their traditional and timeless feel, as well as their strong meanings.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1988

In 1988, the most popular baby girl names in California were Jessica, Ashley, Jennifer, Amanda, and Stephanie. Jessica was the most popular name with 6492 babies given that name, followed by Ashley with 4760, Jennifer with 3875, Amanda with 3796, and Stephanie with 3255.

Jessica

6492 baby girls born in California (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

4760 baby girls born in California (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.
Jennifer

3875 baby girls born in California (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.
Amanda

3796 baby girls born in California (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.
Stephanie

3255 baby girls born in California (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.
Sarah
3010 baby girls born in California (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.
Elizabeth
2715 baby girls born in California (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.
Nicole
2603 baby girls born in California (1988) 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.
Melissa
2535 baby girls born in California (1988) 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.
Brittany
2422 baby girls born in California (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.
Vanessa
2311 baby girls born in California (1988) named Vanessa
The name Vanessa is of English origin and its meaning is "butterfly". It was first used as a name in the 18th century by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift, who used it as a pseudonym for his friend Esther Vanhomrigh. The name became popular in the 20th century, particularly in the United States.
Michelle
2287 baby girls born in California (1988) 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.
Samantha
2209 baby girls born in California (1988) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Christina
2207 baby girls born in California (1988) 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.
Lauren
2054 baby girls born in California (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.
Danielle
1837 baby girls born in California (1988) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Tiffany
1753 baby girls born in California (1988) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Megan
1700 baby girls born in California (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".
Heather
1695 baby girls born in California (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
1605 baby girls born in California (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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1988

In 1988, Michael was the most popular baby boy name in California with 7761 newborns given that name. The next four most popular names were Christopher with 6463, Daniel with 5406, David with 5157, and Matthew with 4852. These five names were the most commonly given names for baby boys in California during that year.

Michael

7761 baby boys born in California (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.
Christopher

6463 baby boys born in California (1988) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Daniel

5406 baby boys born in California (1988) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
David

5157 baby boys born in California (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.
Matthew

4852 baby boys born in California (1988) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Andrew
4561 baby boys born in California (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.
Joshua
3943 baby boys born in California (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.
Robert
3639 baby boys born in California (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.
Anthony
3599 baby boys born in California (1988) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Jose
3544 baby boys born in California (1988) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Jonathan
3532 baby boys born in California (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.
Ryan
3389 baby boys born in California (1988) 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.
Justin
3287 baby boys born in California (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.
Joseph
3266 baby boys born in California (1988) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
James
3102 baby boys born in California (1988) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Nicholas
3076 baby boys born in California (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.
John
2948 baby boys born in California (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.
Kevin
2870 baby boys born in California (1988) 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".
Eric
2653 baby boys born in California (1988) 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.
Brian
2577 baby boys born in California (1988) 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.