Illinois's most popular baby names in 1985

In the year 1985, the state of Illinois witnessed a surge of popular baby names that dominated the charts. The top baby girl names that year were Jennifer, Ashley, and Jessica, while the top baby boy names were Michael, Christopher, and Matthew.

Jennifer, a name of Welsh origin, meaning "fair and smooth," topped the charts for baby girls, followed closely by Ashley, a name of English origin, meaning "ash tree meadow," and Jessica, a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God beholds." Meanwhile, baby boys were named Michael, a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "who is like God," followed by Christopher, a name of Greek origin, meaning "bearer of Christ," and Matthew, a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "gift of God." These names were not only popular in Illinois but across the United States, reflecting a trend of traditional and timeless names that continue to be popular to this day.

Most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1985

In 1985, Jennifer was the most popular baby girl name in Illinois with 2052 babies given that name. Ashley and Jessica followed closely behind with 1945 and 1909 babies respectively. Amanda was the fourth most popular name with 1655 babies, and Nicole rounded out the top five with 1228 babies given that name.

Jennifer

2052 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Ashley

1945 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Jessica

1909 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Amanda

1655 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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

1228 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Sarah
1164 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Elizabeth
1120 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Megan
1079 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) named Megan
The name Megan is of Welsh origin and means "pearl". It is a shortened version of the name Margaret, which also means "pearl".
Stephanie
1071 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Melissa
999 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Lauren
833 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) named Lauren
The name Lauren is of English origin and means "bay laurel" or "crowned with laurel". It is a feminine name that has been popular since the 1940s.
Laura
829 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Heather
807 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Rachel
801 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) named Rachel
The name Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means "ewe" or "female sheep". It is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and has been used since biblical times. The name is often associated with qualities such as beauty, grace, and kindness.
Christina
797 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Michelle
781 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Amy
740 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Danielle
700 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Brittany
699 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) named Brittany
The name Brittany is derived from the region of Brittany in France. Its meaning is uncertain, but it is believed to come from the Latin word "Britannia," which means "Britain" or "of the Britons." It is also thought to be related to the Celtic word "breton," which means "from Brittany." The name is commonly given to girls in English-speaking countries.
Kimberly
647 baby girls born in Illinois (1985) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Illinois in 1985

In 1985, the most popular baby boy names in Illinois were Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Daniel, and David. Michael was the most popular name with 3370 babies given that name, followed by Christopher with 2384 babies, Matthew with 2321 babies, Daniel with 2011 babies, and David with 1884 babies. These names were likely chosen due to their classic and timeless nature, as well as their popularity at the time.

Michael

3370 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Christopher

2384 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Matthew

2321 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Daniel

2011 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
David

1884 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Ryan
1705 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Joshua
1569 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
James
1553 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert
1529 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Joseph
1529 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Andrew
1460 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
John
1345 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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
1285 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Nicholas
1284 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Jason
1271 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Anthony
1202 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Brandon
1192 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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".
Adam
1105 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) named Adam
The name Adam is of Hebrew origin and means "man" or "earth". It is also the name of the first man created by God in the Bible.
Eric
1055 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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.
Kevin
1029 baby boys born in Illinois (1985) 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".