California's most popular baby names in 1990

California has always been a trendsetter in many aspects, including baby names. In the year 1990, the Golden State saw a surge in the popularity of certain names that dominated the baby name charts. For baby girls, Jessica, Ashley, and Stephanie were the top three names that parents chose for their little ones. These names were not only popular in California but also across the United States.

On the other hand, baby boys were mostly named Michael, Christopher, and Daniel. These names have been popular for decades and continue to remain so. It is interesting to note that parents in California chose traditional names for their baby boys while opting for more modern-sounding names for baby girls. Overall, the baby names of 1990 in California reflect a mix of classic and contemporary choices that continue to inspire parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1990

According to the data from 1990, Jessica was the most popular baby girl name in California with 6,636 babies given that name. Ashley came in second with 4,535 babies, followed by Stephanie with 4,002 babies. Amanda and Jennifer were also popular choices, with 3,857 and 3,612 babies given those names respectively. These five names were the most commonly chosen for baby girls in California in 1990.

Jessica

6636 baby girls born in California (1990) 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

4535 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Stephanie

4002 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Amanda

3857 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Jennifer

3612 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Elizabeth
3172 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Sarah
2845 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Brittany
2737 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Samantha
2720 baby girls born in California (1990) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Michelle
2453 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Melissa
2442 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Nicole
2349 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Maria
2318 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Vanessa
2226 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Lauren
2184 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Megan
2008 baby girls born in California (1990) 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".
Christina
1952 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Emily
1732 baby girls born in California (1990) 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.
Danielle
1698 baby girls born in California (1990) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Alyssa
1665 baby girls born in California (1990) named Alyssa
The name Alyssa is derived from the name Alicia, which means "noble" or "of noble birth". It is a feminine name commonly used in English-speaking countries.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1990

In 1990, the most popular baby boy names in California were Michael, Christopher, Daniel, David, and Jose. Michael was the most popular name with 8247 babies being named Michael that year. Christopher came in second with 6620 babies being named Christopher, followed by Daniel with 5768 babies, David with 5348 babies, and Jose with 4913 babies. These names were the top choices for parents in California during that year.

Michael

8247 baby boys born in California (1990) 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

6620 baby boys born in California (1990) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Daniel

5768 baby boys born in California (1990) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
David

5348 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Jose

4913 baby boys born in California (1990) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Matthew
4885 baby boys born in California (1990) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Andrew
4547 baby boys born in California (1990) 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
4302 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Jonathan
4118 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Anthony
4022 baby boys born in California (1990) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Ryan
3630 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Robert
3589 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Joseph
3580 baby boys born in California (1990) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Nicholas
3468 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Kevin
3315 baby boys born in California (1990) 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".
James
3114 baby boys born in California (1990) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Justin
3034 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Eric
2980 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
John
2895 baby boys born in California (1990) 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.
Juan
2736 baby boys born in California (1990) named Juan
The name Juan is a Spanish variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious".