California's most popular baby names in 2004

In the year 2004, California saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names for both boys and girls. Emily, Ashley, and Samantha were among the most popular baby girl names, while Daniel, Anthony, and Andrew were the top baby boy names. These names were chosen by thousands of parents across the state, reflecting the trends and preferences of the time.

Emily, meaning "rival" or "industrious", has been a popular name for girls for decades and continues to be a favorite among parents. Ashley, meaning "ash tree meadow", has been a popular name since the 1980s and has remained a top choice for parents in California. Samantha, meaning "listener" or "heard by God", has also been a popular name for girls in recent years. Meanwhile, Daniel, meaning "God is my judge", has been a classic name for boys for centuries, while Anthony, meaning "priceless" or "worthy of praise", and Andrew, meaning "manly" or "warrior", have also been popular choices for parents in California.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 2004

In 2004, the top 5 most popular baby girl names in California were Emily, Ashley, Samantha, Isabella, and Natalie. Emily was the most popular name with 3416 babies given that name, followed by Ashley with 2927 babies. Samantha was the third most popular name with 2491 babies, while Isabella and Natalie were fourth and fifth with 2448 and 1946 babies respectively.

Emily

3416 baby girls born in California (2004) 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

2927 baby girls born in California (2004) 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

2491 baby girls born in California (2004) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Isabella

2448 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Natalie

1946 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Alyssa
1814 baby girls born in California (2004) 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
1757 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Sophia
1719 baby girls born in California (2004) named Sophia
The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek.
Jessica
1710 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Jasmine
1662 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Elizabeth
1601 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Madison
1580 baby girls born in California (2004) 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."
Jennifer
1484 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Alexis
1469 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Kimberly
1464 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Andrea
1377 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Hannah
1322 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Abigail
1321 baby girls born in California (2004) named Abigail
The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.
Sarah
1319 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.
Vanessa
1301 baby girls born in California (2004) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 2004

According to data from 2004, the most popular baby boy names in California were Daniel, Anthony, Andrew, Jose, and Jacob. Daniel was the most popular name with 4170 babies given that name, followed closely by Anthony with 3808 babies. Andrew came in third with 3493 babies, followed by Jose with 3385 babies, and Jacob with 3340 babies. These names were likely influenced by cultural and familial traditions, as well as popular culture and celebrity namesakes.

Daniel

4170 baby boys born in California (2004) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Anthony

3808 baby boys born in California (2004) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Andrew

3493 baby boys born in California (2004) 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

3385 baby boys born in California (2004) named Jose
The name Jose is a Spanish variant of the name Joseph, which means "God will increase" or "God will add".
Jacob

3340 baby boys born in California (2004) 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
3301 baby boys born in California (2004) 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.
David
3267 baby boys born in California (2004) 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.
Angel
3211 baby boys born in California (2004) 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
2870 baby boys born in California (2004) 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
2864 baby boys born in California (2004) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher
2771 baby boys born in California (2004) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Jonathan
2557 baby boys born in California (2004) 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
2518 baby boys born in California (2004) 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
2458 baby boys born in California (2004) 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.
Joseph
2449 baby boys born in California (2004) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Ethan
2371 baby boys born in California (2004) named Ethan
The name Ethan means "firm, strong, enduring" and is of Hebrew origin.
Nathan
2306 baby boys born in California (2004) 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.
Brandon
2209 baby boys born in California (2004) 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
2131 baby boys born in California (2004) 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".
Juan
2114 baby boys born in California (2004) named Juan
The name Juan is a Spanish variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious".