California's most popular baby names in 2001

In the year 2001, California saw a surge of popular baby names for both boys and girls. Topping the list for baby girls were the names Emily, Ashley, and Samantha. These names have been a favorite among parents for their classic appeal and timeless charm. Emily, meaning "industrious" and "hardworking," has been a popular choice for its simplicity and elegance. Ashley, meaning "ash tree meadow," has been a favorite for its sweet and feminine sound. Samantha, meaning "listener," has remained a popular choice for its versatility and strong association with popular culture.

For baby boys, the top names were Daniel, Anthony, and Andrew. These names have been a favorite among parents for their traditional appeal and strong cultural significance. Daniel, meaning "God is my judge," has been a popular choice for its Biblical roots and strong character associations. Anthony, meaning "priceless one," has been a favorite for its classic sound and timeless appeal. Andrew, meaning "manly," has remained a popular choice for its strong and masculine sound. Overall, these names have remained popular choices for parents in California, and continue to be a timeless choice for newborns.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 2001

In 2001, the most popular baby girl names in California were Emily, Ashley, Samantha, Jessica, and Alyssa. Emily was the most popular name with 2928 babies given that name, followed closely by Ashley with 2717 babies. Samantha, Jessica, and Alyssa rounded out the top five with 2535, 2244, and 2059 babies respectively given those names. These names were likely popular due to their classic and timeless appeal, as well as their popularity among celebrities and pop culture at the time.

Emily

2928 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Ashley

2717 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Samantha

2535 baby girls born in California (2001) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Jessica

2244 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Alyssa

2059 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Jennifer
2027 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Natalie
1724 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Elizabeth
1705 baby girls born in California (2001) 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
1700 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Jasmine
1655 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Sarah
1613 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Hannah
1598 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Madison
1595 baby girls born in California (2001) 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."
Andrea
1517 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Stephanie
1516 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Isabella
1482 baby girls born in California (2001) named Isabella
The name Isabella is of Italian and Spanish origin and means "God is my oath" or "devoted to God". It is a variant of the name Elizabeth.
Vanessa
1456 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Brianna
1409 baby girls born in California (2001) 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".
Kimberly
1375 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.
Maria
1363 baby girls born in California (2001) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 2001

According to data from 2001, the most popular baby boy names in California were Daniel, Anthony, Andrew, Jose, and Jacob. Daniel was the most popular name with 4165 babies given that name, followed closely by Anthony with 3827 babies. Andrew, Jose, and Jacob rounded out the top five with 3447, 3426, and 3385 babies given those names, respectively.

Daniel

4165 baby boys born in California (2001) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Anthony

3827 baby boys born in California (2001) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Andrew

3447 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Jose

3426 baby boys born in California (2001) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Jacob

3385 baby boys born in California (2001) 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
3344 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Michael
3295 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Joshua
3215 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Matthew
3083 baby boys born in California (2001) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher
3034 baby boys born in California (2001) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Jonathan
2879 baby boys born in California (2001) 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
2729 baby boys born in California (2001) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Angel
2469 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Kevin
2398 baby boys born in California (2001) 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".
Christian
2339 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Nicholas
2326 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Ryan
2323 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.
Brandon
2271 baby boys born in California (2001) 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".
Luis
2151 baby boys born in California (2001) named Luis
The name Luis is of Spanish origin and means "famous warrior" or "renowned fighter". It is a variant of the name Louis.
Alexander
2086 baby boys born in California (2001) 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.