Illinois's most popular baby names in 1979

In the year 1979, the state of Illinois witnessed a surge of new parents naming their newborns after some of the most popular baby names of the time. For baby girls, Jennifer, Melissa, and Amanda topped the charts as the most popular names, while Michael, Jason, and Christopher were the most common names for baby boys.

Jennifer, a name of Welsh origin meaning "fair one," was a clear favorite among new parents in Illinois. Melissa, a Greek name meaning "honey bee," and Amanda, a Latin name meaning "beloved," were also popular choices for baby girls. On the other hand, Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God," was the most popular name for baby boys, followed closely by Jason, a Greek name meaning "healer," and Christopher, a name of Greek origin meaning "bearer of Christ." These names continue to remain popular even today, with many parents still choosing them for their newborns.

Most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1979

In Illinois, 1979, the most popular baby girl name was Jennifer, with 2907 babies given that name. Melissa was the second most popular name with 1676 babies, followed by Amanda with 1560 babies. Nicole and Michelle were also popular, with 1298 and 1175 babies given those names, respectively.

Jennifer

2907 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Melissa

1676 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Melissa
The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." It was a popular name in ancient Greece and is often associated with sweetness and industriousness.
Amanda

1560 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Amanda
The name Amanda is of Latin origin, meaning "lovable" or "worthy of love". It was first used as a name in the 17th century and became popular in the 19th century. The name is often associated with kindness, compassion, and a friendly personality.
Nicole

1298 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Nicole
Nicole is a feminine given name of Greek origin, meaning "victory of the people". It is a popular name in English-speaking countries and has been in use since the 1930s.
Michelle

1175 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Michelle
Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin. The name means "who is like God" or "gift from God." It is a variation of the name Michael, which comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God." The name Michelle has been used in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century and has gained popularity over time.
Sarah
1144 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Amy
1112 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Amy
The name Amy means "beloved" or "dearly loved" in French and Latin. It is a popular name for girls and has been used since the Middle Ages.
Elizabeth
1074 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Jessica
1070 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Angela
1027 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Angela
The name Angela is derived from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger of God". It is a feminine name that has been used in various cultures and languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and German. Angela is often associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and grace.
Heather
986 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Heather
The name Heather is of English origin and is derived from the name of a flowering plant that grows in Scotland. The name is often associated with the color purple and is said to symbolize admiration, good luck, and protection.
Kelly
937 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Kelly
The name Kelly is of Irish origin and means "bright-headed" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, meaning it can be given to both boys and girls. The name has been popularized by its use as a surname and has been used as a given name since the 20th century.
Lisa
930 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Kimberly
842 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Christina
749 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Christina
The name Christina is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ". It is a feminine name and is commonly used in English-speaking countries.
Rebecca
745 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Rebecca
Rebecca means "captivating" or "knotted cord" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament.
Stephanie
736 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Laura
716 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Laura
The name Laura is of Latin origin and means "bay laurel". It was a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Rome. The name has been popular in many countries and cultures throughout history.
Jamie
687 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Jamie
The name Jamie is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is uncertain, but it is believed to be a diminutive form of James or Jacob, which means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel".
Erin
649 baby girls born in Illinois (1979) named Erin
The name Erin is of Irish origin and means "peace" or "Ireland". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.

Most popular baby boy names in Illinois in 1979

In Illinois, 1979, Michael was the most popular baby boy name with 3718 babies being given this name. The second most popular name was Jason with 2416 babies named Jason. Christopher came in third with 2239 babies, followed by David with 2130 babies and Matthew with 1838 babies. These were the top 5 baby boy names in Illinois in 1979.

Michael

3718 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Jason

2416 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Christopher

2239 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
David

2130 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) 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

1838 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
James
1828 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert
1732 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Robert
The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.
John
1701 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named John
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.
Brian
1677 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Brian
The name Brian is of Irish origin and means "strong, virtuous, and honorable". It is a popular name for boys in Ireland and has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.
Daniel
1670 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Joseph
1606 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Joshua
1459 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Nicholas
1369 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Ryan
1276 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) 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.
Eric
1233 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Eric
The name Eric is of Scandinavian origin and means "eternal ruler" or "ruler of all". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures.
Timothy
1169 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Timothy
The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.
William
1116 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named William
The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.
Anthony
1064 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Kevin
1024 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) 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".
Andrew
1019 baby boys born in Illinois (1979) 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.