Iowa's most popular baby names in 1978

In the year 1978, the state of Iowa saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Jennifer, Amy, and Sarah topped the list of most popular baby girl names, while Jason, Matthew, and Michael were the top baby boy names. These names were chosen by parents across the state, reflecting the cultural and social trends of the time.

The name Jennifer, in particular, was extremely popular in Iowa in 1978. It was the most popular baby girl name not just in Iowa, but across the United States. This name was inspired by the character Jennifer Hart in the popular TV show "Hart to Hart". Similarly, the name Jason was popularized by the character Jason Walton in the TV show "The Waltons". These names, along with others on the list, reflect the cultural and media influences of the late 1970s in Iowa.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 1978

In Iowa, 1978, the most popular baby girl name was Jennifer with 937 occurrences. Following Jennifer, the next four most popular names were Amy with 517 occurrences, Sarah with 490 occurrences, Jessica with 471 occurrences, and Melissa with 443 occurrences. These five names were the most common baby girl names in Iowa during that year.

Jennifer

937 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Amy

517 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Sarah

490 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Jessica

471 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Melissa

443 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Angela
441 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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
423 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Amanda
351 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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
305 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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
297 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Sara
289 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) named Sara
The name Sara means "princess" or "noblewoman" in Hebrew.
Kelly
283 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Stephanie
277 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Lisa
250 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Elizabeth
225 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Jill
224 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) named Jill
The name Jill is a diminutive form of the name Jillian, which is of Latin origin. The meaning of the name Jill is "youthful" or "childlike".
Rebecca
217 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Andrea
216 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) named Andrea
The name Andrea is derived from the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for females in English-speaking countries.
Erin
200 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Amber
195 baby girls born in Iowa (1978) named Amber
The name Amber is derived from the fossilized tree resin of the same name. It is believed to originate from the Arabic word "anbar," which means ambergris or amber. The name is often associated with the color of the gemstone, which ranges from a pale yellow to a deep orange-brown. The name Amber has been used for both boys and girls, but it is more commonly given to girls. The name is often associated with warmth, light, and energy.

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 1978

In 1978, the most popular baby boy names in Iowa were Jason, Matthew, Michael, Ryan, and Joshua. Jason was the most popular name with 815 babies given that name, followed closely by Matthew with 777 and Michael with 747. Ryan and Joshua rounded out the top five with 636 and 619 babies given those names, respectively.

Jason

815 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Matthew

777 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Michael

747 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Ryan

636 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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

619 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Christopher
572 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Brian
514 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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
446 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
David
446 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
James
432 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Jeremy
407 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Chad
388 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Chad
The name Chad means "warrior" or "battle" and has Old English origins.
John
377 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Eric
376 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Andrew
373 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Daniel
367 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Joseph
351 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Adam
342 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Nathan
340 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) 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.
Justin
330 baby boys born in Iowa (1978) named Justin
The name Justin is of Latin origin and means "just, upright, righteous." It was a popular name among early Christians and has been used throughout history by various notable figures.