Names of US

California's most popular baby names in 2008

In the year 2008, California saw a surge in popularity of some classic names for newborns. Isabella, Emily, and Sophia took the top spots for baby girl names, while Daniel, Anthony, and Angel were the most popular choices for baby boys.

These names have been popular for decades, with many parents choosing them for their timeless appeal and strong meanings. Isabella, meaning "devoted to God," has been a popular choice for centuries, while Emily, meaning "industrious" or "eager," has been a top pick for over a century. Sophia, meaning "wisdom," has been a favorite for many years as well. Daniel, meaning "God is my judge," has been a classic name for boys for centuries, while Anthony, meaning "priceless" or "invaluable," has been a popular choice for decades. Angel, meaning "messenger of God," is a name with a strong spiritual connotation that has been gaining popularity in recent years.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 2008

According to data from 2008, the most popular baby girl names in California were Isabella, Emily, Sophia, Samantha, and Ashley. Isabella was the most popular with 2789 babies given that name, followed closely by Emily with 2781. Sophia was the third most popular name with 2570 babies receiving that name, while Samantha and Ashley were fourth and fifth with 2260 and 2042 babies given those names, respectively.

  1. Isabella

    2789 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  2. Emily

    2781 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  3. Sophia

    2570 baby girls born in California (2008) named Sophia

    The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek.

  4. Samantha

    2260 baby girls born in California (2008) named Samantha

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

  5. Ashley

    2042 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  6. Natalie

    1881 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  7. Mia

    1850 baby girls born in California (2008) named Mia

    The name Mia is of Scandinavian and Italian origin. It is derived from the Scandinavian name Maja, which means "bitter" or "sea of bitterness". In Italian, Mia means "mine" or "my".

  8. Emma

    1744 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  9. Abigail

    1575 baby girls born in California (2008) named Abigail

    The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.

  10. Ava

    1468 baby girls born in California (2008) named Ava

    The name Ava is of uncertain origin and meaning. It is believed to possibly be a variation of the name Eve or a shortened form of the name Aveline. Some sources suggest that it may also have Germanic roots and mean "desired" or "life" in Hebrew. However, the true meaning of the name Ava remains unknown.

  11. Olivia

    1421 baby girls born in California (2008) named Olivia

    The name Olivia is of Latin origin and means "olive tree". It is a feminine name that has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 18th century. The olive tree is a symbol of peace and fertility, and the name Olivia has been associated with these qualities.

  12. Elizabeth

    1419 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  13. Madison

    1412 baby girls born in California (2008) 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."

  14. Valeria

    1377 baby girls born in California (2008) named Valeria

    Valeria is a feminine given name of Latin origin, meaning "strength, health". It is derived from the Latin word "valere" which means "to be strong".

  15. Alyssa

    1363 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  16. Chloe

    1352 baby girls born in California (2008) named Chloe

    The name Chloe means "young green shoot" or "blooming" in Greek. It is a popular name for girls and has been used in various cultures throughout history.

  17. Sofia

    1333 baby girls born in California (2008) named Sofia

    The name Sofia means "wisdom" or "knowledge" and is of Greek origin. It is a popular name in many countries and cultures.

  18. Kimberly

    1316 baby girls born in California (2008) 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.

  19. Brianna

    1236 baby girls born in California (2008) 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".

  20. Victoria

    1149 baby girls born in California (2008) named Victoria

    Victoria means "victory" or "conqueror" in Latin. It is a feminine name that has been used since ancient times and is associated with strength, power, and success.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 2008

In 2008, the most popular baby boy names in California were Daniel, Anthony, Angel, Jacob, and David. Daniel was the most popular name with 3754 babies given that name, followed closely by Anthony with 3640 babies. Angel was the third most popular name with 3172 babies, while Jacob and David rounded out the top five with 3028 and 2917 babies respectively.

  1. Daniel

    3754 baby boys born in California (2008) named Daniel

    The name Daniel means "God is my judge".

  2. Anthony

    3640 baby boys born in California (2008) named Anthony

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

  3. Angel

    3172 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  4. Jacob

    3028 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  5. David

    2917 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  6. Alexander

    2889 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  7. Andrew

    2828 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  8. Joshua

    2762 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  9. Christopher

    2609 baby boys born in California (2008) named Christopher

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

  10. Jose

    2573 baby boys born in California (2008) named Jose

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

  11. Matthew

    2545 baby boys born in California (2008) named Matthew

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

  12. Nathan

    2528 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  13. Ethan

    2520 baby boys born in California (2008) named Ethan

    The name Ethan means "firm, strong, enduring" and is of Hebrew origin.

  14. Michael

    2520 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  15. Jonathan

    2313 baby boys born in California (2008) 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.

  16. Joseph

    2214 baby boys born in California (2008) named Joseph

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

  17. Diego

    2144 baby boys born in California (2008) named Diego

    Diego is a Spanish name of uncertain etymology. It is believed to be derived from the Latin name Didacus, which means "teacher" or "instructor". The name is popular in Spanish-speaking countries, and is often associated with the famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera.

  18. Adrian

    2138 baby boys born in California (2008) named Adrian

    The name Adrian is of Latin origin and means "man of Adria" or "from the city of Adria". Adria was a port city in ancient Italy. The name is often given to boys and is a popular name in many countries around the world.

  19. Jayden

    2055 baby boys born in California (2008) named Jayden

    The name Jayden is of modern origin and its meaning is uncertain. It is believed to be a combination of the names Jay and Aidan, or a variation of the name Jadon which means "thankful" or "God has heard".

  20. Brandon

    2021 baby boys born in California (2008) 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".