Iowa's most popular baby names in 1997

In the year 1997, the state of Iowa witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Among the top baby girl names were Emily, Taylor, and Hannah, while the top baby boy names were Jacob, Austin, and Tyler. These names were highly favored by parents across the state, and it's easy to see why.

Emily, a classic name that has been popular for decades, was the most popular baby girl name in Iowa in 1997. Taylor, a unisex name that has gained popularity in recent years, was also a top choice for baby girls. Meanwhile, Hannah, a biblical name with a timeless appeal, was another popular choice. On the boys' side, Jacob, a name with Hebrew origins that means "supplanter," was the most popular name. Austin, a name that has been steadily rising in popularity since the 1980s, and Tyler, a name that has been popular since the 1990s, were also among the top choices for baby boys in Iowa in 1997.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 1997

In Iowa, 1997, Emily was the most popular baby girl name with 298 instances, followed closely by Taylor with 284 and Hannah with 279. Madison and Megan round out the top five with 271 and 216 instances, respectively. These names were likely popular due to their simplicity and classic appeal.

Emily

298 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Taylor

284 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Hannah

279 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Madison

271 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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."
Megan

216 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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
211 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Jessica
200 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Elizabeth
197 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Ashley
181 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Sarah
179 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Alexis
178 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Rachel
176 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Morgan
176 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Abigail
147 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) named Abigail
The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.
Nicole
135 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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
134 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) named Shelby
The name Shelby is of English origin and its meaning is "willow farm".
Courtney
133 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Sydney
133 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) named Sydney
Sydney is a unisex name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English words "sīde" meaning "wide" and "īeg" meaning "island". The name Sydney has been used as a given name for both boys and girls since the 19th century.
Allison
130 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) named Allison
The name Allison is of Scottish origin and means "noble, kind". It is a variant spelling of the name Alison.
Bailey
130 baby girls born in Iowa (1997) named Bailey
The name Bailey means "steward" or "bailiff". It is of Old French origin and was originally used to refer to someone who managed a lord's estate. It later became a common surname and eventually a first name.

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 1997

In Iowa, 1997, the most popular baby boy names were Jacob, Austin, Tyler, Zachary, and Nicholas. Jacob was the most popular name with 513 babies named Jacob. Austin came in second with 447 babies named Austin, followed by Tyler with 347 babies named Tyler. Zachary and Nicholas round out the top five with 320 and 314 babies named respectively.

Jacob

513 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Austin

447 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Tyler

347 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Zachary

320 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Nicholas

314 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Michael
277 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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
273 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Andrew
269 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Brandon
247 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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".
Joshua
223 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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
214 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Jordan
202 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Joseph
197 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Benjamin
196 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Alexander
192 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Dylan
192 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Samuel
187 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) named Samuel
The name Samuel means "heard by God" or "asked of God". It is of Hebrew origin and is a biblical name. Samuel was a prophet and judge in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Kyle
187 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Nathan
183 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.
Logan
170 baby boys born in Iowa (1997) 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.