Names of US

Massachusetts's most popular baby names in 1978

In the year 1978, the most popular baby names in the state of Massachusetts for girls were Jennifer, Melissa, and Jessica. These three names dominated the charts and were a favorite among parents who were looking for a trendy and modern name for their baby girl. Jennifer, which means "white wave" in Welsh, held the top spot for the third consecutive year, while Melissa, meaning "honey bee" in Greek, and Jessica, meaning "God beholds" in Hebrew, followed closely behind.

For baby boys, Michael, Matthew, and Christopher were the top picks in Massachusetts. Michael, which means "who is like God" in Hebrew, was the most popular name for boys for the sixth year in a row. Matthew, meaning "gift of God" in Hebrew, came in at a close second, while Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ" in Greek, rounded out the top three. These names were a reflection of the traditional and timeless values that parents held dear in Massachusetts during the late 1970s.

Most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts in 1978

In Massachusetts in 1978, the most popular baby girl name was Jennifer, with 1494 babies given that name. Following Jennifer were Melissa with 862, Jessica with 772, Amy with 603, and Sarah with 575. These were the top 5 baby girl names in Massachusetts during that year.

  1. Jennifer

    1494 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  2. Melissa

    862 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  3. Jessica

    772 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  4. Amy

    603 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  5. Sarah

    575 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  6. Michelle

    572 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Michelle

    Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin. The name means "who is like God" or "gift from God." It is a variation of the name Michael, which comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God." The name Michelle has been used in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century and has gained popularity over time.

  7. Nicole

    569 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  8. Elizabeth

    553 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  9. Lisa

    529 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Lisa

    The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".

  10. Heather

    514 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  11. Kelly

    496 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Kelly

    The name Kelly is of Irish origin and means "bright-headed" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, meaning it can be given to both boys and girls. The name has been popularized by its use as a surname and has been used as a given name since the 20th century.

  12. Erin

    400 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Erin

    The name Erin is of Irish origin and means "peace" or "Ireland". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.

  13. Christine

    386 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Christine

    The name Christine is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ".

  14. Kimberly

    367 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  15. Rebecca

    365 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  16. Danielle

    347 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Danielle

    The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".

  17. Julie

    334 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Julie

    The name Julie is a French name that means "youthful" or "full of energy". It is derived from the Latin name Julia, which means "soft-haired" or "youthful".

  18. Stephanie

    325 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  19. Christina

    310 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) named Christina

    The name Christina is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ". It is a feminine name and is commonly used in English-speaking countries.

  20. Amanda

    307 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Massachusetts in 1978

In Massachusetts in 1978, the most popular baby boy names were Michael, Matthew, Christopher, Jason, and David. Michael was the most popular name with 2134 babies given that name. Matthew came in second with 1318 babies given that name, followed by Christopher with 1245, Jason with 1151, and David with 1103. These names were the most commonly chosen for baby boys born in Massachusetts that year.

  1. Michael

    2134 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  2. Matthew

    1318 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Matthew

    Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".

  3. Christopher

    1245 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Christopher

    The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."

  4. Jason

    1151 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Jason

    The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".

  5. David

    1103 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  6. John

    905 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  7. James

    860 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named James

    The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".

  8. Daniel

    860 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Daniel

    The name Daniel means "God is my judge".

  9. Brian

    815 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  10. Robert

    795 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  11. Joseph

    731 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  12. Jeffrey

    605 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Jeffrey

    The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.

  13. Kevin

    594 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Kevin

    The name Kevin is of Irish origin and means "handsome" or "gentle birth". It is derived from the Irish name Caoimhín, which is composed of the Gaelic words "caomh" meaning "kind" or "gentle" and "gin" meaning "birth".

  14. Timothy

    575 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  15. William

    514 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  16. Andrew

    492 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  17. Eric

    485 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Eric

    The name Eric is of Scandinavian origin and means "eternal ruler" or "ruler of all". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures.

  18. Joshua

    476 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) 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.

  19. Richard

    466 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Richard

    The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".

  20. Thomas

    458 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1978) named Thomas

    The name Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin". It is a common name in many cultures and has been used for centuries.