Iowa's most popular baby names in 1998

In the year 1998, the state of Iowa saw a surge in popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, the top picks were Emily, Hannah, and Taylor. These names exude a sense of classic elegance and simplicity, while also being versatile enough to suit a wide range of personalities.

On the other hand, for baby boys, the most popular names were Jacob, Austin, and Tyler. These names convey a sense of strength, confidence, and individuality. It's no surprise that parents in Iowa were drawn to these names, as they perfectly capture the spirit of the state's hardworking and resilient population. Overall, these names continue to be beloved choices for parents looking to give their children timeless and impactful monikers.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 1998

In Iowa in 1998, Emily was the most popular baby girl name with 318 babies being given that name. Hannah followed closely with 310 babies, while Taylor, Madison, and Alexis rounded out the top five with 263, 260, and 258 babies respectively being given those names.

Emily

318 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Hannah

310 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Taylor

263 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Madison

260 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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."
Alexis

258 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Megan
220 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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 (1998) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Elizabeth
204 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Emma
178 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) named Emma
The name Emma is of German origin and means "universal" or "whole". It is a popular name in many countries and has been used since medieval times. The name has been associated with strength, beauty, and intelligence.
Ashley
176 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Morgan
176 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Sydney
174 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Sarah
164 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Abigail
161 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) named Abigail
The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.
Rachel
158 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Lauren
157 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Olivia
153 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) named Olivia
The name Olivia is of Latin origin and means "olive tree". It is a feminine name that has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 18th century. The olive tree is a symbol of peace and fertility, and the name Olivia has been associated with these qualities.
Jessica
152 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Alyssa
135 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) named Alyssa
The name Alyssa is derived from the name Alicia, which means "noble" or "of noble birth". It is a feminine name commonly used in English-speaking countries.
Anna
131 baby girls born in Iowa (1998) named Anna
The name Anna is of Hebrew origin and means "grace" or "favor". It is a simple and classic name that has been popular for centuries.

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 1998

In Iowa, 1998, the most popular baby boy names were Jacob, Austin, Tyler, Matthew, and Nicholas. Jacob was the most popular name with 509 newborns given that name, followed by Austin with 384, Tyler with 328, Matthew with 276, and Nicholas with 270. These names were likely influenced by popular culture, family traditions, and personal preferences of parents in Iowa during that time.

Jacob

509 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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

384 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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

328 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Matthew

276 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Nicholas

270 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Zachary
270 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Brandon
269 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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".
Andrew
260 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Michael
251 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Noah
236 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) named Noah
The name Noah is of Hebrew origin and means "rest" or "comfort". It is famously associated with the biblical character who built an ark to save his family and animals from a great flood.
Joshua
231 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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
225 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Alexander
220 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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
209 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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
196 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Nathan
183 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Jordan
180 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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
173 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) 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.
Benjamin
171 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Hunter
167 baby boys born in Iowa (1998) named Hunter
The name Hunter is of English origin and it means "one who hunts". It is typically used as a masculine name and is associated with qualities such as strength, courage, and resourcefulness.