California's most popular baby names in 2021

California, the land of sunshine and dreams, is home to a diverse population that draws inspiration from various cultures and traditions. This is reflected in the most popular baby names in the state for the year 2021. For baby girls, Olivia, Emma, and Camila took the top spots, while Noah, Liam, and Mateo were the most popular names for baby boys.

Olivia, a name of Latin origin meaning "olive tree," has been a favorite among parents for several years. Emma, a name that means "universal" in German, has also been a popular choice for a while. Camila, a name of Spanish and Italian origin meaning "young ceremonial attendant," has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. As for the boys, Noah, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "rest" or "comfort," has been a top choice for parents for a while. Liam, a name of Irish origin meaning "strong-willed warrior," has also been a popular pick. And Mateo, a name of Spanish origin meaning "gift of God," has been gaining popularity in recent years.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 2021

According to recent data, the most popular baby girl names in California in 2021 are Olivia, Emma, Camila, Mia, and Sophia. Olivia tops the list with 2395 babies named after it, followed closely by Emma with 2171. Camila, Mia, and Sophia round out the top five with 2065, 2021, and 1808 babies named after them, respectively. These names have been consistently popular in California over the years and remain a popular choice for parents.

Olivia

2395 baby girls born in California (2021) 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.
Emma

2171 baby girls born in California (2021) 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.
Camila

2065 baby girls born in California (2021) named Camila
Camila is a feminine name of Latin origin. It is derived from the Latin word "camillus," which means "attendant or servant of a temple." The name Camila also has Arabic roots, where it means "perfect" or "complete." It is a popular name in Spanish-speaking countries and has gained popularity in other parts of the world as well. The name Camila is associated with qualities such as grace, beauty, and kindness.
Mia

2021 baby girls born in California (2021) 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".
Sophia

1808 baby girls born in California (2021) named Sophia
The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek.
Isabella
1648 baby girls born in California (2021) 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.
Luna
1458 baby girls born in California (2021) named Luna
The name Luna is of Latin origin and means "moon". It is a name that has been used for both boys and girls, but is more commonly given to girls. The name has been popularized in recent years by the character Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series.
Amelia
1363 baby girls born in California (2021) named Amelia
The name Amelia is of Latin origin and means "work of the Lord" or "industrious".
Sofia
1305 baby girls born in California (2021) named Sofia
The name Sofia means "wisdom" or "knowledge" and is of Greek origin. It is a popular name in many countries and cultures.
Gianna
1289 baby girls born in California (2021) named Gianna
Gianna is a name of Italian origin and is a diminutive form of the name Giovanna. The name Gianna means "God is gracious".
Ava
1264 baby girls born in California (2021) 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.
Charlotte
1132 baby girls born in California (2021) named Charlotte
Charlotte is a female given name, a female form of the male name Charlot, a diminutive of Charles. It is of French origin meaning "free man" or "petite".
Emily
1095 baby girls born in California (2021) 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.
Mila
1061 baby girls born in California (2021) named Mila
The name Mila is of Slavic origin and means "gracious" or "dear".
Aria
990 baby girls born in California (2021) named Aria
Aria is a name of Italian origin, meaning "air" or "song" in Italian. It has also been associated with the musical term "aria," which refers to a solo performance in an opera or other vocal piece. The name has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in the United States.
Evelyn
962 baby girls born in California (2021) named Evelyn
The name Evelyn is of English origin and is derived from the French name Aveline, which means "hazelnut". It is also believed to have roots in the Germanic name Avelina, which means "wished-for child" or "longed-for child". Overall, the name Evelyn is associated with sweetness, charm, and grace.
Natalia
949 baby girls born in California (2021) named Natalia
The name Natalia is of Latin origin and means "born on Christmas Day" or "of the Nativity". It is a feminine name that is often given to girls who are born around the Christmas holiday.
Victoria
938 baby girls born in California (2021) 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.
Abigail
913 baby girls born in California (2021) named Abigail
The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.
Penelope
902 baby girls born in California (2021) named Penelope
Penelope is a name of Greek origin, meaning "weaver" or "duck". In Greek mythology, Penelope was the wife of Odysseus who was known for her faithfulness and weaving skills.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 2021

According to the latest data, the top 5 most popular baby boy names in California in 2021 are Noah, Liam, Mateo, Sebastian, and Julian. Noah is the most popular name with 2591 babies given that name, followed closely by Liam with 2469 babies. Mateo is the third most popular name with 2108 babies, followed by Sebastian with 2042 babies, and Julian with 1720 babies. These names are all classic and timeless, and have remained popular choices for parents in California for several years.

Noah

2591 baby boys born in California (2021) named Noah
The name Noah is of Hebrew origin and means "rest" or "comfort". It is famously associated with the biblical character who built an ark to save his family and animals from a great flood.
Liam

2469 baby boys born in California (2021) named Liam
The name Liam is of Irish origin and is a shortened form of the name Uilliam, which is the Irish version of the name William. The name Liam means "strong-willed warrior" or "protector".
Mateo

2108 baby boys born in California (2021) named Mateo
The name Mateo is of Spanish origin and means "gift of God".
Sebastian

2042 baby boys born in California (2021) named Sebastian
The name Sebastian is of Latin origin and means "venerable" or "revered". It was derived from the Greek name Sebastianos, which means "from Sebastia", a city in Asia Minor. The name has been popularized by Saint Sebastian, a Christian martyr who was killed during the Roman Empire.
Julian

1720 baby boys born in California (2021) named Julian
The name Julian is derived from the Latin name Julianus, which means "belonging to Julius" or "descended from Julius". The name has been widely used in various cultures and languages, and is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, creativity, and leadership. Some sources suggest that the name may also have connections to the Roman god Jupiter, who was known as Jovianus in Latin. Overall, the name Julian has a rich history and is a popular choice for parents looking for a strong and timeless name for their child.
Benjamin
1607 baby boys born in California (2021) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Oliver
1523 baby boys born in California (2021) named Oliver
Oliver is a name of English origin, derived from the Old French name Olivier. The name is believed to mean "olive tree" or "olive branch". It has been a popular name in England since the Middle Ages and has gained popularity in other English-speaking countries over time.
Elijah
1498 baby boys born in California (2021) named Elijah
The name Elijah is of Hebrew origin and means "my God is Yahweh". It is a biblical name and is associated with the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament.
Alexander
1483 baby boys born in California (2021) 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.
Daniel
1424 baby boys born in California (2021) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Ethan
1411 baby boys born in California (2021) named Ethan
The name Ethan means "firm, strong, enduring" and is of Hebrew origin.
Lucas
1367 baby boys born in California (2021) named Lucas
The name Lucas is a Latin name meaning "from Lucania," a region in southern Italy. It is derived from the Latin name Lucius, which means "light" or "illumination."
Ezekiel
1270 baby boys born in California (2021) named Ezekiel
The name Ezekiel means "God strengthens" or "strengthened by God".
Santiago
1250 baby boys born in California (2021) named Santiago
The name Santiago is of Spanish origin and means "Saint James". It is derived from the Latin name Jacobus, which means "supplanter". Saint James was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is the patron saint of Spain. The name Santiago is commonly given to boys in Spanish-speaking countries and is often used in honor of Saint James.
Aiden
1234 baby boys born in California (2021) named Aiden
The name Aiden means "fiery one" or "little fire" in Gaelic. It is a popular name for boys in the United States and has been consistently ranked in the top 100 names for several years.
Jacob
1216 baby boys born in California (2021) 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.
Matthew
1173 baby boys born in California (2021) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
James
1157 baby boys born in California (2021) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Ezra
1117 baby boys born in California (2021) named Ezra
Ezra is a Hebrew name that means "help" or "helper". It is a biblical name, borne by a prophet and priest in the Old Testament who helped to restore the Jewish community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
Jayden
1091 baby boys born in California (2021) 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".