Illinois's most popular baby names in 1991

In the year 1991, the state of Illinois witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. The top baby girl names that year were Jessica, Ashley, and Samantha, while the top baby boy names were Michael, Matthew, and Christopher.

Jessica, meaning "God beholds," held the top spot for baby girls, followed closely by Ashley, meaning "ash tree meadow," and Samantha, meaning "listener." On the other hand, Michael, meaning "who is like God," was the most popular baby boy name, followed by Matthew, meaning "gift of God," and Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ." These names were not only popular in Illinois but also across the United States, reflecting the cultural trends and values of that time.

Most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1991

In 1991, the most popular baby girl names in Illinois were Jessica, Ashley, Samantha, Brittany, and Sarah. Jessica was the most popular name with 2026 babies given that name, followed by Ashley with 1869 babies. Samantha, Brittany, and Sarah were also popular names with 1272, 1267, and 1194 babies given those names, respectively.

Jessica

2026 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Ashley

1869 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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

1272 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Brittany

1267 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Sarah

1194 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Amanda
1154 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Stephanie
1132 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Elizabeth
1120 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Emily
1049 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Jennifer
1021 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Megan
926 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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".
Lauren
867 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Nicole
854 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Rachel
782 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Jasmine
691 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Melissa
686 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Danielle
681 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Michelle
663 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Rebecca
662 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Kayla
629 baby girls born in Illinois (1991) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.

Most popular baby boy names in Illinois in 1991

In Illinois in 1991, the most popular baby boy names were Michael, Matthew, Christopher, Daniel, and Joshua. Michael was the most popular name with 3157 babies given that name, followed by Matthew with 2111 babies named Matthew. Christopher was the third most popular name with 1924 babies named Christopher, followed by Daniel with 1713 babies named Daniel. Finally, Joshua was the fifth most popular name with 1571 babies named Joshua.

Michael

3157 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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

2111 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher

1924 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Daniel

1713 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Joshua

1571 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Joseph
1532 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Nicholas
1454 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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
1422 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.
David
1418 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Andrew
1415 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.
James
1313 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John
1277 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Anthony
1244 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Robert
1232 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Jacob
1221 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.
Kyle
1183 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named Kyle
The name Kyle is of Scottish origin and means "narrow strait". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to boys. People with this name are often described as confident, charismatic, and adventurous.
Kevin
1153 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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".
Brandon
1104 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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".
Zachary
1042 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Alexander
998 baby boys born in Illinois (1991) 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.