Kentucky's most popular baby names in 1981

In the year 1981, the state of Kentucky witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Among the most popular baby girl names were Amanda, Jessica, and Jennifer. These names were chosen by parents who were looking for traditional yet modern options for their little princesses. Amanda, which means "worthy of love," was the top pick among parents, followed closely by Jessica, which means "gift of God," and Jennifer, which means "white wave."

For baby boys, the top names were Joshua, Michael, and James. Joshua, which means "God is salvation," was the most popular choice among Kentucky parents. Michael, which means "who is like God," was a close second, followed by James, which means "supplanter." These names were chosen by parents who wanted strong and timeless names for their little boys. Overall, the top baby names in Kentucky in 1981 were a perfect blend of traditional and modern names that continue to remain popular even today.

Most popular baby girl names in Kentucky in 1981

Based on the data from Kentucky in 1981, the most popular baby girl names were Amanda, Jessica, Jennifer, Amy, and Sarah. Amanda was the most popular with 1059 babies given that name, followed closely by Jessica with 961 and Jennifer with 944. Amy and Sarah rounded out the top five with 507 and 500 babies respectively given those names.

Amanda

1059 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Jessica

961 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Jennifer

944 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Amy

507 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Amy
The name Amy means "beloved" or "dearly loved" in French and Latin. It is a popular name for girls and has been used since the Middle Ages.
Sarah

500 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Melissa
462 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Melissa
The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." It was a popular name in ancient Greece and is often associated with sweetness and industriousness.
Stephanie
446 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Rebecca
389 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Rebecca
Rebecca means "captivating" or "knotted cord" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament.
Crystal
380 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Crystal
The name Crystal is of Greek origin and means "ice or clear". It is often associated with the mineral quartz crystal and is a popular name choice for girls.
Heather
374 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Heather
The name Heather is of English origin and is derived from the name of a flowering plant that grows in Scotland. The name is often associated with the color purple and is said to symbolize admiration, good luck, and protection.
Elizabeth
369 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Angela
361 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Angela
The name Angela is derived from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger of God". It is a feminine name that has been used in various cultures and languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and German. Angela is often associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and grace.
Tiffany
346 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Kimberly
322 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Kimberly
The name Kimberly means "from the wood of the royal forest" or "royal fortress meadow". It is of Old English origin and was first used as a given name in the 1940s.
April
317 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named April
April is a feminine given name that is derived from the name of the fourth month of the year. The name April has no specific meaning beyond being associated with the spring season in which the month of April falls.
Ashley
305 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Mary
302 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Mary
Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.
Amber
264 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Emily
236 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Jamie
225 baby girls born in Kentucky (1981) named Jamie
The name Jamie is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is uncertain, but it is believed to be a diminutive form of James or Jacob, which means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel".

Most popular baby boy names in Kentucky in 1981

In Kentucky, 1981, the most popular baby boy names were Joshua, Michael, James, Christopher, and Jason. Joshua was the most popular name with 1064 babies given that name, followed closely by Michael with 1063 babies. James was the third most popular name with 1037 babies, while Christopher and Jason were fourth and fifth with 920 and 854 babies respectively.

Joshua

1064 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Michael

1063 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
James

1037 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Christopher

920 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Jason

854 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
William
690 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) 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
682 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
David
659 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named David
The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.
Robert
623 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Robert
The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.
John
613 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named John
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.
Brandon
565 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) 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
536 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jeremy
510 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Brian
454 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Brian
The name Brian is of Irish origin and means "strong, virtuous, and honorable". It is a popular name for boys in Ireland and has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.
Jonathan
447 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Jonathan
The name Jonathan means "gift of God" or "God has given" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, appearing in the Old Testament as the name of King Saul's son and close friend of David.
Justin
445 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) 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.
Adam
423 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Adam
The name Adam is of Hebrew origin and means "man" or "earth". It is also the name of the first man created by God in the Bible.
Daniel
395 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Charles
391 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Charles
The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.
Timothy
369 baby boys born in Kentucky (1981) named Timothy
The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.