California's most popular baby names in 2003

In the year 2003, California witnessed some of the most popular baby names for both girls and boys. The top baby girl names in California were Emily, Ashley, and Samantha, while the top baby boy names were Daniel, Anthony, and Andrew.

Emily, which has been a favorite name for girls for several years, retained its top spot in California in 2003. Ashley, another popular name, closely followed Emily in the list. Samantha, with its charming sound and meaning, also made it to the top three. For baby boys, Daniel, with its biblical roots and strong meaning, secured the top position, followed by Anthony, a classic name with a timeless appeal. Andrew, which means "manly," also made it to the top three, reflecting the Californian parents' preference for traditional and meaningful names. Overall, these names continue to be popular among parents in California, reflecting their love for timeless and meaningful names.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 2003

According to data from 2003, the most popular baby girl names in California were Emily, Ashley, Samantha, Isabella, and Alyssa. Emily was the most popular name with 3416 babies given that name, followed by Ashley with 2731 babies, Samantha with 2578 babies, Isabella with 2192 babies, and Alyssa with 1927 babies.

Emily

3416 baby girls born in California (2003) 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

2731 baby girls born in California (2003) 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

2578 baby girls born in California (2003) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Isabella

2192 baby girls born in California (2003) 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

1927 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Emma
1844 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Natalie
1827 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Jessica
1762 baby girls born in California (2003) 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
1699 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Elizabeth
1670 baby girls born in California (2003) 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
1614 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Alexis
1578 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Sophia
1545 baby girls born in California (2003) named Sophia
The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek.
Madison
1468 baby girls born in California (2003) 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."
Sarah
1427 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Kimberly
1419 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Hannah
1396 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Vanessa
1333 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Stephanie
1333 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.
Andrea
1321 baby girls born in California (2003) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 2003

In 2003, the most popular baby boy names in California were Daniel, Anthony, Andrew, Jose, and Jacob. Daniel was the most popular name with 4033 babies given that name, followed closely by Anthony with 3935 babies. Andrew, Jose, and Jacob rounded out the top five with 3458, 3377, and 3369 babies respectively given those names.

Daniel

4033 baby boys born in California (2003) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Anthony

3935 baby boys born in California (2003) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Andrew

3458 baby boys born in California (2003) 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

3377 baby boys born in California (2003) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Jacob

3369 baby boys born in California (2003) 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
3354 baby boys born in California (2003) 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.
Joshua
3222 baby boys born in California (2003) 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.
Angel
3220 baby boys born in California (2003) 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.
Michael
3109 baby boys born in California (2003) 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.
Matthew
2986 baby boys born in California (2003) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher
2776 baby boys born in California (2003) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Joseph
2733 baby boys born in California (2003) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jonathan
2723 baby boys born in California (2003) 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.
Ryan
2567 baby boys born in California (2003) 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.
Alexander
2361 baby boys born in California (2003) 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.
Brandon
2359 baby boys born in California (2003) 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".
Kevin
2276 baby boys born in California (2003) 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".
Ethan
2241 baby boys born in California (2003) named Ethan
The name Ethan means "firm, strong, enduring" and is of Hebrew origin.
Nathan
2127 baby boys born in California (2003) named Nathan
The name Nathan means "gift of God" or "God has given" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by a prophet in the Old Testament.
Juan
2080 baby boys born in California (2003) named Juan
The name Juan is a Spanish variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious".