Names of US

California's most popular baby names in 2000

In the year 2000, California saw a surge in popularity for certain baby names. For baby girls, Emily, Ashley, and Samantha topped the charts as the most popular names. These names were chosen by parents for their timeless and classic feel, as well as their association with strong and successful women.

For baby boys, Daniel, Anthony, and Jose were the most popular names in California. These names were chosen for their strong and masculine qualities, as well as their popularity among different cultures and backgrounds. Whether it was for family tradition or simply personal preference, these names were a popular choice for parents throughout the state.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 2000

In the year 2000, the most popular baby girl names in California were Emily, Ashley, Samantha, Jessica, and Jennifer. Emily was the most popular with 2958 babies given that name, followed closely by Ashley with 2831 babies. Samantha, Jessica, and Jennifer were also popular choices with 2579, 2484, and 2264 babies given those names, respectively.

  1. Emily

    2958 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  2. Ashley

    2831 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  3. Samantha

    2579 baby girls born in California (2000) named Samantha

    The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.

  4. Jessica

    2484 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  5. Jennifer

    2264 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  6. Alyssa

    2005 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  7. Alexis

    1864 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  8. Sarah

    1855 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  9. Hannah

    1854 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  10. Elizabeth

    1849 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  11. Vanessa

    1635 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  12. Jasmine

    1613 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  13. Stephanie

    1596 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  14. Natalie

    1589 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  15. Jacqueline

    1561 baby girls born in California (2000) named Jacqueline

    The name Jacqueline is a French name that means "supplanter" or "one who takes the place of another". It is the feminine form of the name Jacques.

  16. Maria

    1471 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

  17. Brianna

    1451 baby girls born in California (2000) named Brianna

    The name Brianna is of Irish origin and is a variant of the name Brian. It is derived from the Gaelic word "brígh" which means "strength" or "virtue". Therefore, the name Brianna can be interpreted to mean "strong" or "virtuous".

  18. Madison

    1441 baby girls born in California (2000) 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."

  19. Andrea

    1417 baby girls born in California (2000) named Andrea

    The name Andrea is derived from the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for females in English-speaking countries.

  20. Kimberly

    1401 baby girls born in California (2000) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 2000

According to data from 2000, the most popular baby boy names in California were Daniel, Anthony, Jose, Andrew, and Michael. Daniel was the most popular name with 4342 babies given that name, followed closely by Anthony with 3840 babies. Jose, Andrew, and Michael rounded out the top five with 3804, 3600, and 3572 babies respectively.

  1. Daniel

    4342 baby boys born in California (2000) named Daniel

    The name Daniel means "God is my judge".

  2. Anthony

    3840 baby boys born in California (2000) named Anthony

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

  3. Jose

    3804 baby boys born in California (2000) named Jose

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

  4. Andrew

    3600 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  5. Michael

    3572 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  6. Jacob

    3520 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  7. Joshua

    3356 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  8. Christopher

    3336 baby boys born in California (2000) named Christopher

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

  9. David

    3280 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  10. Matthew

    3254 baby boys born in California (2000) named Matthew

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

  11. Jonathan

    2992 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  12. Joseph

    2779 baby boys born in California (2000) named Joseph

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

  13. Brandon

    2615 baby boys born in California (2000) 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".

  14. Nicholas

    2586 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  15. Ryan

    2556 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  16. Christian

    2435 baby boys born in California (2000) 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.

  17. Kevin

    2357 baby boys born in California (2000) 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".

  18. Angel

    2327 baby boys born in California (2000) named Angel

    The name Angel is of Greek origin and means "messenger" or "angelic". It is often used as a name for both boys and girls.

  19. Luis

    2287 baby boys born in California (2000) named Luis

    The name Luis is of Spanish origin and means "famous warrior" or "renowned fighter". It is a variant of the name Louis.

  20. Juan

    2223 baby boys born in California (2000) named Juan

    The name Juan is a Spanish variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious".