Iowa's most popular baby names in 2002

In the year 2002, the state of Iowa saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, the top names were Emma, Madison, and Emily, while for baby boys, Jacob, Ethan, and Tyler were the most popular choices. These names were chosen by thousands of parents across the state, making them the most common names for newborns that year.

Emma, a classic name that means "universal" or "whole," has been a popular choice for baby girls for decades. Madison, on the other hand, is a more modern name that has gained popularity in recent years, likely due to its association with the popular movie "Splash." Emily, which means "industrious" or "hardworking," has also remained a popular choice for parents. For baby boys, Jacob, meaning "supplanter," has been a top choice for many years. Ethan, which means "strong" or "firm," has also remained consistently popular, while Tyler, meaning "maker of tiles," has been a popular choice in recent years.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 2002

In 2002, the most popular baby girl names in Iowa were Emma, Madison, Emily, Hannah, and Abigail. Emma was the most popular name with 319 babies given that name, followed closely by Madison with 291 babies. Emily, Hannah, and Abigail rounded out the top five with 249, 233, and 215 babies given those names, respectively.

Emma

319 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Madison

291 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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."
Emily

249 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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

233 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Abigail

215 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) named Abigail
The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.
Olivia
215 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Alexis
210 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Grace
203 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) named Grace
The name Grace means "elegance" or "charm" and is derived from the Latin word "gratia". It is often associated with the Christian concept of divine grace, which is the unmerited favor and love of God towards humanity. The name has been popular for centuries and is still commonly used today.
Elizabeth
184 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Taylor
160 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Lauren
142 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Chloe
142 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) named Chloe
The name Chloe means "young green shoot" or "blooming" in Greek. It is a popular name for girls and has been used in various cultures throughout history.
Samantha
142 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Anna
135 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Morgan
135 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Alyssa
129 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Megan
127 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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".
Sydney
125 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Rachel
117 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Sarah
114 baby girls born in Iowa (2002) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 2002

In Iowa, 2002, the most popular baby boy names were Jacob, Ethan, Tyler, Zachary, and Austin. Jacob was the most popular name with 377 babies given that name, followed by Ethan with 288 babies. Tyler, Zachary, and Austin were also popular names with 237, 223, and 222 babies given those names respectively.

Jacob

377 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Ethan

288 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named Ethan
The name Ethan means "firm, strong, enduring" and is of Hebrew origin.
Tyler

237 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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

223 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Austin

222 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Logan
219 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Andrew
212 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Nicholas
211 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Joseph
197 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Samuel
194 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Dylan
192 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Caleb
189 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named Caleb
The name Caleb is of Hebrew origin and means "faithful, devoted, whole-hearted". It is a biblical name, borne by a figure in the Old Testament who was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. Caleb was known for his courage and faith in God, and his name has come to symbolize loyalty and steadfastness.
Noah
186 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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
177 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Benjamin
177 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Hunter
175 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
William
174 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named William
The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.
Matthew
174 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Michael
172 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) 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.
Carter
161 baby boys born in Iowa (2002) named Carter
The name Carter is of English origin and means "one who transports goods by cart". It is a surname that has been used as a given name since the 19th century. It is a popular name for boys in the United States.