Kentucky's most popular baby names in 1989

In the year 1989, Kentucky saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, the top three names were Brittany, Ashley, and Jessica. These names were not only popular in Kentucky, but across the United States as well. Brittany, meaning "from Britain," has been a popular name since the 1970s, while Ashley, meaning "ash tree meadow," has been popular since the 1980s. Jessica, meaning "God beholds," has been a popular name since the 1960s, but saw a resurgence in the 1980s.

For baby boys, the top three names were Joshua, Christopher, and James. Joshua, meaning "God is salvation," has been a popular name since the 1970s, while Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ," has been popular since the 1980s. James, meaning "supplanter," has been a popular name for centuries and continues to be popular to this day. These names reflect the cultural and societal trends of the time, and continue to be popular choices for parents in Kentucky and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in Kentucky in 1989

In Kentucky in 1989, the most popular baby girl names were Brittany, Ashley, Jessica, Amanda, and Sarah. Brittany was the most popular with 844 babies given that name, followed closely by Ashley with 837 babies. Jessica was the third most popular name with 793 babies named that, followed by Amanda with 608 babies and Sarah with 511 babies. These names were likely popular due to their trendy and fashionable sound at the time.

Brittany

844 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) named Brittany
The name Brittany is derived from the region of Brittany in France. Its meaning is uncertain, but it is believed to come from the Latin word "Britannia," which means "Britain" or "of the Britons." It is also thought to be related to the Celtic word "breton," which means "from Brittany." The name is commonly given to girls in English-speaking countries.
Ashley

837 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Jessica

793 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Amanda

608 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Sarah

511 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Samantha
427 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Kayla
405 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Tiffany
390 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Amber
387 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Megan
385 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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".
Heather
363 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Emily
317 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Lauren
309 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Whitney
283 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) named Whitney
Whitney is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is "white island" or "white meadow".
Elizabeth
278 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Stephanie
272 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Jennifer
265 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Rachel
249 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Courtney
228 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Rebecca
212 baby girls born in Kentucky (1989) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Kentucky in 1989

In Kentucky, 1989, the top 5 most popular baby boy names were Joshua, Christopher, James, Michael, and Justin. Joshua was the most popular name with 945 babies given that name, followed closely by Christopher with 883 babies. James, Michael, and Justin rounded out the top 5 with 755, 747, and 735 babies given those names, respectively.

Joshua

945 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Christopher

883 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
James

755 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Michael

747 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Justin

735 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Matthew
675 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
William
572 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
David
487 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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
451 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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
450 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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
443 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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
439 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Joseph
413 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Daniel
381 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Jonathan
359 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Nicholas
344 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Aaron
332 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named Aaron
The name Aaron means "mountain of strength" or "enlightened" and is of Hebrew origin. It is a biblical name, borne by the brother of Moses in the Old Testament. Aaron is a popular name for boys in many cultures.
Jacob
319 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) 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.
Dustin
319 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named Dustin
The name Dustin is of Old Norse origin, meaning "valiant fighter" or "brave warrior". It was originally a surname, but has since become a popular given name for boys.
Zachary
301 baby boys born in Kentucky (1989) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.