Iowa's most popular baby names in 1996

In the year 1996, the state of Iowa saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Emily, Hannah, and Taylor were among the top names chosen by parents. These names have remained popular over the years and continue to be a popular choice for parents in Iowa.

For baby boys, Jacob, Austin, and Tyler were the most popular names in 1996. These names have a strong and classic feel to them, making them a timeless choice for parents. It's interesting to note that these names have also remained popular in Iowa over the years, showcasing their lasting appeal to parents looking for a strong name for their baby boy.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 1996

In Iowa in 1996, the most popular baby girl names were Emily, Hannah, Taylor, Madison, and Samantha. Emily was the most popular name with 375 babies given that name, followed by Hannah with 273, Taylor with 265, Madison with 249, and Samantha with 244.

  1. Emily

    375 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  2. Hannah

    273 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  3. Taylor

    265 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Taylor

    The name Taylor is of English origin and is derived from the occupation of a tailor, who was responsible for making and altering clothing. It is a unisex name, meaning it can be used for both boys and girls. The name Taylor is often associated with qualities such as creativity, independence, and determination.

  4. Madison

    249 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Madison

    The name Madison is of English origin and has two possible meanings. One interpretation is that it means "son of Matthew," while another suggests it means "gift of God." It became a popular name for girls in the 1980s and 1990s, likely due to its association with the character Madison in the movie "Splash."

  5. Samantha

    244 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Samantha

    The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.

  6. Jessica

    226 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  7. Ashley

    222 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  8. Megan

    212 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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".

  9. Rachel

    205 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  10. Sarah

    184 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  11. Elizabeth

    183 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  12. Morgan

    183 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Morgan

    The name Morgan is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Old Welsh name Morcant, which means "sea circle" or "sea chief". It was originally a masculine name but has become more commonly used as a feminine name in recent years. The name is associated with strength, leadership, and intelligence.

  13. Alexis

    162 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Alexis

    The name Alexis is derived from the Greek name Alexios, which means "defender" or "helper". It is a unisex name that has been used for both boys and girls.

  14. Courtney

    154 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  15. Abigail

    150 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Abigail

    The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.

  16. Haley

    142 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Haley

    The name Haley is of English origin and means "hay clearing". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for females.

  17. Shelby

    139 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Shelby

    The name Shelby is of English origin and its meaning is "willow farm".

  18. Allison

    134 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Allison

    The name Allison is of Scottish origin and means "noble, kind". It is a variant spelling of the name Alison.

  19. Kelsey

    132 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  20. Kayla

    132 baby girls born in Iowa (1996) named Kayla

    The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 1996

In 1996, the most popular baby boy names in Iowa were Jacob, Austin, Tyler, Zachary, and Nicholas. Jacob was the most popular name with 553 babies given that name, followed closely by Austin with 503 babies. Tyler was the third most popular name with 377 babies, followed by Zachary with 319 babies and Nicholas with 314 babies. These names were the top choices for parents in Iowa that year.

  1. Jacob

    553 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  2. Austin

    503 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  3. Tyler

    377 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  4. Zachary

    319 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) named Zachary

    The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.

  5. Nicholas

    314 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  6. Michael

    298 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  7. Matthew

    275 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) named Matthew

    Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".

  8. Brandon

    270 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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".

  9. Ryan

    255 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  10. Andrew

    252 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  11. Joshua

    238 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  12. Alexander

    230 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  13. Benjamin

    222 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) named Benjamin

    The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.

  14. Cody

    213 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) named Cody

    The name Cody is of Irish origin and means "helper" or "cushion".

  15. Kyle

    189 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  16. Logan

    189 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) named Logan

    The name Logan is of Scottish origin and means "small hollow" or "little hollow". It is derived from the Gaelic word "lagan", which refers to a small valley or hollow.

  17. Nathan

    188 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.

  18. Joseph

    186 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  19. Dylan

    183 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) named Dylan

    The name Dylan is of Welsh origin and its meaning is "son of the sea". It is derived from the Welsh word "dy" which means "great" and "llanw" which means "tide" or "flow". The name has been used as a given name for centuries and has been popularized in modern times by various famous individuals.

  20. Jordan

    183 baby boys born in Iowa (1996) 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.