Minnesota's most popular baby names in 1978

In the year 1978, Minnesota witnessed a surge in the popularity of baby names that left an indelible mark on the state's history. The top baby girl names of the year were Jennifer, Jessica, and Sarah, while the top baby boy names were Michael, Jason, and Matthew.

Jennifer, the most popular baby girl name of the year, was inspired by its meaning "white wave." Jessica, the second most popular name, is derived from the Hebrew name Yiskah, which means "to behold." Sarah, the third most popular name, is a timeless name that means "princess" and is rooted in the Hebrew language.

On the other hand, Michael, the most popular baby boy name of the year, means "who is like God" and has been a favorite name for centuries. Jason, the second most popular name, means "healer" and has its roots in Greek mythology. Matthew, the third most popular name, means "gift of God" and has been a popular name for its religious significance.

These names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents in Minnesota and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in Minnesota in 1978

According to the data from 1978, the most popular baby girl names in Minnesota were Jennifer, Jessica, Sarah, Melissa, and Angela. Jennifer was the most popular name with 1247 babies named Jennifer. Jessica and Sarah came in second with 783 babies each. Melissa was the fourth most popular name with 724 babies named Melissa, and Angela rounded out the top five with 657 babies named Angela.

Jennifer

1247 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Sarah

783 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Jessica

783 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Melissa

724 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Angela

657 baby girls born in Minnesota (1978) named Angela
The name Angela is derived from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger of God". It is a feminine name that has been used in various cultures and languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and German. Angela is often associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and grace.
Amy
603 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Nicole
545 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Kelly
476 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Heather
420 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Sara
415 baby girls born in Minnesota (1978) named Sara
The name Sara means "princess" or "noblewoman" in Hebrew.
Lisa
415 baby girls born in Minnesota (1978) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Michelle
401 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Rebecca
376 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Elizabeth
343 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Amanda
310 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Erin
310 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Christina
300 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Laura
287 baby girls born in Minnesota (1978) 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.
Andrea
276 baby girls born in Minnesota (1978) named Andrea
The name Andrea is derived from the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for females in English-speaking countries.
Jill
276 baby girls born in Minnesota (1978) named Jill
The name Jill is a diminutive form of the name Jillian, which is of Latin origin. The meaning of the name Jill is "youthful" or "childlike".

Most popular baby boy names in Minnesota in 1978

In Minnesota, 1978, Michael was the most popular baby boy name with a total of 1275 babies given that name. Jason followed as the second most popular name with 1038 babies named Jason. Matthew ranked third with 982 babies, while Ryan and Christopher ranked fourth and fifth with 865 and 763 babies respectively. These were the top five most popular baby boy names in Minnesota in 1978.

Michael

1275 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Jason

1038 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Matthew

982 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Ryan

865 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) 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.
Christopher

763 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
David
694 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Joshua
692 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Andrew
667 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Daniel
641 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Brian
633 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Joseph
600 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jeremy
579 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Nicholas
562 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) 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.
Eric
530 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
John
512 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
James
488 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Jeffrey
482 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Nathan
466 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Nathan
The name Nathan means "gift of God" or "God has given" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by a prophet in the Old Testament.
Chad
444 baby boys born in Minnesota (1978) named Chad
The name Chad means "warrior" or "battle" and has Old English origins.
Timothy
440 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.