Massachusetts's most popular baby names in 1997

In the state of Massachusetts in the year 1997, parents were drawn to classic and timeless names for their newborns. For baby girls, the name Emily topped the charts, followed closely by Samantha and Sarah. These names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

For baby boys, the names Matthew, Michael, and Nicholas were the most popular choices in Massachusetts in 1997. These names have been popular for decades and are still commonly used today. With their strong and traditional sound, it's no surprise that Massachusetts parents continue to choose these names for their baby boys.

Most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts in 1997

In 1997, the most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts were Emily, Samantha, Sarah, Jessica, and Hannah. Emily was the most popular name with 768 babies given that name, followed by Samantha with 682 babies, Sarah with 640 babies, Jessica with 513 babies, and Hannah with 497 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time.

Emily

768 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Samantha

682 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Sarah

640 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Jessica

513 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Hannah

497 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Julia
443 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Nicole
427 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Rachel
411 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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
410 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Olivia
405 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Elizabeth
404 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Amanda
384 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Brianna
338 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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
330 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) named Katherine
The name Katherine is of Greek origin and means "pure". It is a variant of the name Catherine.
Taylor
328 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) named Taylor
The name Taylor is of English origin and is derived from the occupation of a tailor, who was responsible for making and altering clothing. It is a unisex name, meaning it can be used for both boys and girls. The name Taylor is often associated with qualities such as creativity, independence, and determination.
Lauren
328 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Emma
323 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Alexandra
322 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) named Alexandra
The name Alexandra means "defender of the people" and is of Greek origin. It is a feminine form of the name Alexander.
Megan
313 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) 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".
Kayla
312 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1997) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.

Most popular baby boy names in Massachusetts in 1997

In 1997, the top five most popular baby boy names in Massachusetts were Matthew, Michael, Nicholas, Christopher, and John. Matthew was the most popular name with 1169 babies given this name, followed closely by Michael with 1119 babies. Nicholas was the third most popular name with 1006 babies, while Christopher and John rounded out the top five with 800 and 796 babies respectively.

Matthew

1169 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Michael

1119 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Nicholas

1006 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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

800 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
John

796 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Andrew
750 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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
716 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Ryan
700 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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
664 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Jacob
595 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Joshua
580 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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
563 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
James
554 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Kyle
547 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Kyle
The name Kyle is of Scottish origin and means "narrow strait". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to boys. People with this name are often described as confident, charismatic, and adventurous.
Zachary
542 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Alexander
535 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Benjamin
519 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Anthony
498 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
David
489 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.
Jonathan
475 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1997) 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.