California's most popular baby names in 1998

In the year 1998, California saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Jessica, Ashley, and Emily were the top three most popular names. These names were chosen by parents across the state for their daughters, reflecting a trend towards traditional and timeless names.

For baby boys, Daniel, Jose, and Michael were the most popular names in California in 1998. These names were chosen for their strong and classic sound, and were favored by parents who wanted to give their sons a name that would stand the test of time. Whether it was a desire for tradition or a personal connection to the name, these names were the top choices for parents in California in 1998.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1998

In 1998, the most popular baby girl names in California were Jessica, Ashley, Emily, Samantha, and Jennifer. Jessica topped the list with 2846 babies being named that, followed closely by Ashley with 2721 babies. Emily, Samantha, and Jennifer were also popular choices, with 2671, 2668, and 2560 babies being named each, respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time.

Jessica

2846 baby girls born in California (1998) 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

2721 baby girls born in California (1998) 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

2671 baby girls born in California (1998) 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

2668 baby girls born in California (1998) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Jennifer

2560 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Sarah
2137 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Alexis
2074 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Vanessa
1973 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Alyssa
1962 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Stephanie
1951 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Elizabeth
1942 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Jasmine
1711 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Hannah
1692 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Maria
1649 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Natalie
1530 baby girls born in California (1998) named Natalie
The name Natalie is of Latin origin and means "birthday of the Lord" or "born on Christmas day". It is a feminine name that has been popular since the 19th century.
Madison
1439 baby girls born in California (1998) named Madison
The name Madison is of English origin and has two possible meanings. One interpretation is that it means "son of Matthew," while another suggests it means "gift of God." It became a popular name for girls in the 1980s and 1990s, likely due to its association with the character Madison in the movie "Splash."
Victoria
1430 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Kimberly
1400 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Taylor
1376 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.
Melissa
1360 baby girls born in California (1998) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1998

In California, 1998, the most popular baby boy names were Daniel, Jose, Michael, Anthony, and Jacob. Daniel was the most popular with 4318 babies given that name, followed closely by Jose with 4281 babies. Michael, Anthony, and Jacob rounded out the top five with 4132, 3884, and 3567 babies given those names, respectively.

Daniel

4318 baby boys born in California (1998) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Jose

4281 baby boys born in California (1998) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Michael

4132 baby boys born in California (1998) 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.
Anthony

3884 baby boys born in California (1998) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Jacob

3567 baby boys born in California (1998) 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.
David
3476 baby boys born in California (1998) 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
3456 baby boys born in California (1998) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Andrew
3434 baby boys born in California (1998) 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.
Christopher
3387 baby boys born in California (1998) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Joshua
3255 baby boys born in California (1998) 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
3078 baby boys born in California (1998) 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.
Joseph
2951 baby boys born in California (1998) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Nicholas
2757 baby boys born in California (1998) 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.
Brandon
2733 baby boys born in California (1998) 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".
Ryan
2432 baby boys born in California (1998) 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
2371 baby boys born in California (1998) named Juan
The name Juan is a Spanish variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Christian
2352 baby boys born in California (1998) 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.
Luis
2299 baby boys born in California (1998) named Luis
The name Luis is of Spanish origin and means "famous warrior" or "renowned fighter". It is a variant of the name Louis.
Kevin
2230 baby boys born in California (1998) 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".
Alexander
2229 baby boys born in California (1998) 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.