Massachusetts's most popular baby names in 1987

In the year 1987, the state of Massachusetts saw a surge in popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, the top three names were Jessica, Amanda, and Ashley. These names were not only popular in Massachusetts but also across the United States. Jessica, meaning "God beholds," was the most popular name for baby girls in Massachusetts in 1987. Amanda, meaning "lovable," and Ashley, meaning "from the ash tree meadow," were also very popular choices for parents.

For baby boys, the top three names in Massachusetts were Michael, Matthew, and Christopher. Michael, meaning "who is like God," was the most popular name for baby boys in Massachusetts in 1987. Matthew, meaning "gift of God," and Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ," were also very popular choices for parents. These names have remained popular choices for parents over the years and continue to be used today.

Most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts in 1987

In Massachusetts in 1987, the top five most popular baby girl names were Jessica, Amanda, Ashley, Jennifer, and Sarah. Jessica was the most popular name with 1278 babies given that name, followed closely by Amanda and Ashley with 1214 and 1211 babies respectively. Jennifer was the fourth most popular name with 941 babies named Jennifer and Sarah rounded out the top five with 762 babies given that name.

  1. Jessica

    1278 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  2. Amanda

    1214 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  3. Ashley

    1211 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  4. Jennifer

    941 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  5. Sarah

    762 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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. Nicole

    749 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  7. Stephanie

    614 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  8. Elizabeth

    594 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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. Danielle

    530 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) named Danielle

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

  10. Melissa

    512 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  11. Samantha

    512 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) named Samantha

    The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.

  12. Lauren

    486 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  13. Emily

    479 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  14. Michelle

    378 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  15. Heather

    371 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  16. Rachel

    366 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  17. Laura

    355 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) named Laura

    The name Laura is of Latin origin and means "bay laurel". It was a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Rome. The name has been popular in many countries and cultures throughout history.

  18. Christina

    332 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  19. Katherine

    328 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) named Katherine

    The name Katherine is of Greek origin and means "pure". It is a variant of the name Catherine.

  20. Rebecca

    321 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1987) 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 Massachusetts in 1987

According to the data from Massachusetts in 1987, the most popular baby boy names were Michael, Matthew, Christopher, Daniel, and David. Michael was the most popular name with 2256 babies named Michael in that year. Matthew was the second most popular with 1565 babies named Matthew. Christopher was the third most popular with 1489 babies named Christopher. Daniel was the fourth most popular with 1195 babies named Daniel. David was the fifth most popular with 1044 babies named David.

  1. Michael

    2256 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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

    1565 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) named Matthew

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

  3. Christopher

    1489 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) named Christopher

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

  4. Daniel

    1195 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) named Daniel

    The name Daniel means "God is my judge".

  5. David

    1044 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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. Andrew

    1013 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  7. John

    963 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  8. Joseph

    865 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) named Joseph

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

  9. Ryan

    826 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  10. James

    822 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) named James

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

  11. Robert

    794 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  12. Nicholas

    791 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  13. Joshua

    757 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  14. Jonathan

    724 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  15. Brian

    712 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  16. Kevin

    643 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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".

  17. Justin

    623 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  18. Timothy

    607 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  19. Thomas

    606 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.

  20. William

    591 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1987) 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.