Massachusetts's most popular baby names in 1996

In the year 1996, the state of Massachusetts witnessed a surge of babies being named after popular biblical and classic names. The top baby girl names of the year were Emily, Sarah, and Samantha, which were all traditional names that have been popular for decades. Emily, meaning "industrious" or "hardworking," was the most popular name for baby girls in Massachusetts, followed closely by Sarah, meaning "princess," and Samantha, meaning "listener."

For baby boys, the top names were Michael, Matthew, and Nicholas, which were also classic and timeless choices. Michael, meaning "who is like God," was the most popular name for baby boys, followed by Matthew, meaning "gift of God," and Nicholas, meaning "victorious people." These names were all popular choices for parents who wanted to give their children strong and meaningful names that would stand the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts in 1996

In 1996, the most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts were Emily, Sarah, Samantha, Jessica, and Rachel. Emily was the most popular name with 784 babies given that name, followed by Sarah with 619, Samantha with 616, Jessica with 526, and Rachel with 466. These names were very popular among parents in Massachusetts that year.

Emily

784 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Sarah

619 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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

616 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Jessica

526 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Rachel

466 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Ashley
457 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Nicole
453 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Amanda
425 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Elizabeth
409 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Hannah
403 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Kayla
395 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Olivia
378 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Julia
367 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) named Julia
The name Julia is of Latin origin and means "youthful". It is a feminine name that has been used since ancient Roman times and continues to be popular today.
Alexandra
366 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) named Alexandra
The name Alexandra means "defender of the people" and is of Greek origin. It is a feminine form of the name Alexander.
Brianna
359 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) named Brianna
The name Brianna is of Irish origin and is a variant of the name Brian. It is derived from the Gaelic word "brígh" which means "strength" or "virtue". Therefore, the name Brianna can be interpreted to mean "strong" or "virtuous".
Katherine
343 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) named Katherine
The name Katherine is of Greek origin and means "pure". It is a variant of the name Catherine.
Lauren
328 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Victoria
318 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) named Victoria
Victoria means "victory" or "conqueror" in Latin. It is a feminine name that has been used since ancient times and is associated with strength, power, and success.
Jennifer
310 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Emma
306 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Massachusetts in 1996

In 1996, the most popular baby boy names in Massachusetts were Michael, Matthew, Nicholas, Christopher, and John. Michael was the most popular name with 1217 babies given that name, followed closely by Matthew with 1178 babies. Nicholas was the third most popular name with 1003 babies named Nicholas, while Christopher and John rounded out the top five with 881 and 844 babies respectively.

Michael

1217 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Matthew

1178 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Nicholas

1003 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Christopher

881 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
John

844 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Joseph
780 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Andrew
770 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Ryan
753 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Daniel
737 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Joshua
629 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Tyler
610 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Jacob
593 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
James
574 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Zachary
559 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
David
540 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Anthony
534 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Benjamin
526 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Alexander
525 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) named Alexander
The name Alexander means "defender of the people" or "protector of mankind". It is of Greek origin and is a popular name for boys.
Robert
509 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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.
Kevin
506 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1996) 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".