California's most popular baby names in 1997

In the year 1997, California saw a surge of babies being born and given some of the most popular names of the time. For baby girls, the top names were Jessica, Jennifer, and Ashley. These names were popular not only in California but across the United States. Jessica, meaning "God beholds" in Hebrew, held the top spot for the third year in a row. Jennifer, meaning "white wave" in Welsh, came in at a close second, and Ashley, meaning "ash tree meadow" in English, rounded out the top three.

For baby boys, the top names in California in 1997 were Daniel, Michael, and Jose. Daniel, meaning "God is my judge" in Hebrew, held the top spot for the fifth year in a row. Michael, meaning "who is like God" in Hebrew, came in at a close second, and Jose, the Spanish version of Joseph meaning "God will increase" in Hebrew, rounded out the top three. These names were popular not only in California but across the United States, showcasing the influence of culture and tradition in naming practices.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1997

In California, 1997, the top 5 most popular baby girl names were Jessica, Jennifer, Ashley, Emily, and Samantha. Jessica was the most popular name with 3218 babies given that name, followed by Jennifer with 2817, Ashley with 2633, Emily with 2539, and Samantha with 2496.

Jessica

3218 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Jennifer

2817 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Ashley

2633 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Emily

2539 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Samantha

2496 baby girls born in California (1997) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Sarah
2172 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Stephanie
2171 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Vanessa
2000 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Elizabeth
2000 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Alexis
1953 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Maria
1847 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Jasmine
1795 baby girls born in California (1997) named Jasmine
The name Jasmine is of Persian origin and means "gift from God" or "God's gracious gift". It is also the name of a fragrant flower.
Alyssa
1735 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Melissa
1732 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Hannah
1636 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Kimberly
1583 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Victoria
1450 baby girls born in California (1997) named Victoria
Victoria means "victory" or "conqueror" in Latin. It is a feminine name that has been used since ancient times and is associated with strength, power, and success.
Taylor
1424 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Amanda
1415 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.
Lauren
1371 baby girls born in California (1997) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1997

In California, 1997, the most popular baby boy names were Daniel, Michael, Jose, Anthony, and David. Daniel was the most popular name with 4453 babies given that name, followed closely by Michael with 4311 babies. Jose was the third most popular name with 4156 babies, followed by Anthony with 3908 babies, and David with 3731 babies. These names were the top choices for parents in California during that year.

Daniel

4453 baby boys born in California (1997) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Michael

4311 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Jose

4156 baby boys born in California (1997) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Anthony

3908 baby boys born in California (1997) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
David

3731 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Christopher
3723 baby boys born in California (1997) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Andrew
3561 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Matthew
3260 baby boys born in California (1997) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Jonathan
3252 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Jacob
3245 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Joshua
3109 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Joseph
2885 baby boys born in California (1997) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Brandon
2846 baby boys born in California (1997) 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".
Nicholas
2635 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Christian
2604 baby boys born in California (1997) named Christian
Christian is a name that has roots in the Latin word "Christianus" which means "follower of Christ". It is a name that is commonly used in Christian cultures and is often given to boys. The name Christian is associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and faithfulness. It is a popular name in many countries around the world.
Kevin
2563 baby boys born in California (1997) 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".
Luis
2494 baby boys born in California (1997) named Luis
The name Luis is of Spanish origin and means "famous warrior" or "renowned fighter". It is a variant of the name Louis.
Ryan
2375 baby boys born in California (1997) 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.
Juan
2355 baby boys born in California (1997) named Juan
The name Juan is a Spanish variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Alexander
2185 baby boys born in California (1997) named Alexander
The name Alexander means "defender of the people" or "protector of mankind". It is of Greek origin and is a popular name for boys.