California's most popular baby names in 2002

In the year 2002, California witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Emily, Ashley, and Samantha were among the top baby girl names, while Daniel, Anthony, and Andrew were the most popular baby boy names. These names were chosen by parents across the state for their newborns, reflecting the trends and preferences of the time.

Emily, a classic name meaning "industrious" or "hardworking," was a popular choice for parents who wanted a strong and traditional name for their daughter. Ashley, which means "ash tree meadow," was also a popular choice, perhaps due to its simple and elegant sound. Samantha, a name with Hebrew roots meaning "listener," was another favorite among parents in California. On the boys' side, Daniel, which means "God is my judge," was a popular choice for parents who wanted a name with a strong religious connotation. Anthony, a name with Latin origins meaning "priceless" or "praiseworthy," and Andrew, a name meaning "manly" or "warrior," were also popular choices for baby boys in California in 2002.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 2002

In 2002, the most popular baby girl names in California were Emily, Ashley, Samantha, Jessica, and Jennifer. Emily was the most popular name with 3021 babies given that name, followed by Ashley with 2684 babies, Samantha with 2541 babies, Jessica with 2006 babies, and Jennifer with 1987 babies.

Emily

3021 baby girls born in California (2002) 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

2684 baby girls born in California (2002) 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

2541 baby girls born in California (2002) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Jessica

2006 baby girls born in California (2002) 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

1987 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Isabella
1887 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Alyssa
1874 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Elizabeth
1711 baby girls born in California (2002) 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
1666 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Natalie
1646 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Alexis
1604 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Sarah
1565 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Madison
1538 baby girls born in California (2002) 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."
Hannah
1488 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Stephanie
1467 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Brianna
1460 baby girls born in California (2002) 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".
Andrea
1348 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Sophia
1329 baby girls born in California (2002) named Sophia
The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek.
Maria
1297 baby girls born in California (2002) 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.
Emma
1296 baby girls born in California (2002) named Emma
The name Emma is of German origin and means "universal" or "whole". It is a popular name in many countries and has been used since medieval times. The name has been associated with strength, beauty, and intelligence.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 2002

In 2002, the most popular baby boy names in California were Daniel, Anthony, Andrew, Jose, and Jacob. Daniel was the most popular name with 4133 babies given this name. Anthony came in second with 3772 babies named Anthony. Andrew and Jose tied for third place with 3557 babies each, while Jacob rounded out the top five with 3385 babies given this name.

Daniel

4133 baby boys born in California (2002) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Anthony

3772 baby boys born in California (2002) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Andrew

3557 baby boys born in California (2002) 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

3557 baby boys born in California (2002) 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 (2002) 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
3382 baby boys born in California (2002) 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.
Michael
3237 baby boys born in California (2002) 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.
David
3194 baby boys born in California (2002) 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
3093 baby boys born in California (2002) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher
2904 baby boys born in California (2002) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Angel
2887 baby boys born in California (2002) 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.
Jonathan
2725 baby boys born in California (2002) 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
2702 baby boys born in California (2002) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Alexander
2395 baby boys born in California (2002) 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.
Kevin
2346 baby boys born in California (2002) 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".
Ryan
2289 baby boys born in California (2002) 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
2269 baby boys born in California (2002) 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".
Ethan
2263 baby boys born in California (2002) named Ethan
The name Ethan means "firm, strong, enduring" and is of Hebrew origin.
Christian
2262 baby boys born in California (2002) 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
2208 baby boys born in California (2002) 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.