Iowa's most popular baby names in 1991

In the year 1991, Iowa saw a surge in some of the most popular baby names for boys and girls. For baby girls, Ashley, Jessica, and Emily topped the charts, while for baby boys, Jacob, Tyler, and Michael were the most popular names.

These names were not only popular in Iowa but also across the United States during that time. Parents were choosing names that were classic, easy to pronounce, and had a positive meaning. These names have continued to remain popular over the years, with variations and spellings being introduced to keep them unique.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 1991

In 1991, the most popular baby girl names in Iowa were Ashley, Jessica, Emily, Amanda, and Megan. Ashley was the most popular name with 501 babies given that name, followed by Jessica with 456 babies, Emily with 361 babies, Amanda with 328 babies, and Megan with 320 babies. These names were very popular among parents in Iowa during that year.

Ashley

501 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Jessica

456 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Emily

361 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Amanda

328 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Megan

320 baby girls born in Iowa (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".
Samantha
314 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Sarah
288 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Kayla
254 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Brittany
248 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Kelsey
236 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) named Kelsey
The name Kelsey is of English origin and means "from the ship's island". It is a unisex name and was traditionally used for boys, but has become more popular for girls in recent years.
Elizabeth
231 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Stephanie
218 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Nicole
208 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Shelby
203 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) named Shelby
The name Shelby is of English origin and its meaning is "willow farm".
Jennifer
197 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Hannah
195 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) named Hannah
The name Hannah means "grace" or "favor" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that was borne by the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament. The name has been popular among Christians for centuries and is still commonly used today.
Amber
194 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) 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.
Rachel
194 baby girls born in Iowa (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.
Courtney
162 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) named Courtney
The name Courtney is of English origin and means "from the court". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to girls.
Danielle
150 baby girls born in Iowa (1991) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 1991

In Iowa in 1991, the top five most popular baby boy names were Jacob, Tyler, Michael, Matthew, and Joshua. Jacob was the most popular name with 525 babies given that name, followed closely by Tyler with 503. Michael, Matthew, and Joshua were also popular choices, with 486, 466, and 428 babies given those names respectively.

Jacob

525 baby boys born in Iowa (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.
Tyler

503 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Tyler
The name Tyler is of English origin, and its meaning is "maker of tiles". It is derived from an occupational surname for a person who made or laid tiles. The name Tyler gained popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, and it has remained a popular name for boys.
Michael

486 baby boys born in Iowa (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

466 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Joshua

428 baby boys born in Iowa (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.
Ryan
410 baby boys born in Iowa (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.
Andrew
393 baby boys born in Iowa (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.
Cody
382 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Cody
The name Cody is of Irish origin and means "helper" or "cushion".
Zachary
359 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Nicholas
354 baby boys born in Iowa (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.
Christopher
334 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Jordan
316 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Jordan
The name Jordan is of Hebrew origin and means "to flow down" or "descend." It is also the name of a river in the Middle East.
Kyle
300 baby boys born in Iowa (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.
Brandon
270 baby boys born in Iowa (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".
Joseph
267 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Justin
249 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) 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.
Nathan
242 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) 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.
Alexander
230 baby boys born in Iowa (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.
Austin
225 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Austin
The name Austin is of English origin and means "great, magnificent". It is derived from the Latin name Augustus, which was a title given to Roman emperors. The name became popular in the Middle Ages and has remained a popular name choice for boys to this day.
Daniel
221 baby boys born in Iowa (1991) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".