Minnesota's most popular baby names in 1979

In the year 1979, the state of Minnesota witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Parents in the state seemed to have a strong preference for traditional and timeless names for their little ones. Among the top baby girl names were Jennifer, Melissa, and Jessica, while Michael, Matthew, and Jason were the most popular names for baby boys.

Jennifer, with its Old Welsh origin and meaning "fair and smooth," was the most popular name for baby girls in Minnesota in 1979. Melissa, a Greek name meaning "honey bee," and Jessica, a Hebrew name meaning "God beholds," followed closely behind. For baby boys, Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God," was the top choice, followed by Matthew, a Hebrew name meaning "gift of God," and Jason, a Greek name meaning "healer." These names continue to be popular choices for parents in Minnesota and across the United States.

Most popular baby girl names in Minnesota in 1979

In Minnesota, 1979, the top 5 most popular baby girl names were Jennifer, Melissa, Jessica, Sarah, and Angela. Jennifer was the most popular name with 1239 babies being named Jennifer that year. Melissa followed in second place with 856 babies, Jessica in third with 823 babies, Sarah in fourth with 727 babies, and Angela in fifth with 708 babies.

Jennifer

1239 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Melissa

856 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Jessica

823 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Sarah

727 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Angela

708 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Amanda
641 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Amy
585 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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
552 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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
459 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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
395 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Michelle
392 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Lisa
368 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Sara
361 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) named Sara
The name Sara means "princess" or "noblewoman" in Hebrew.
Rebecca
349 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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
347 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Laura
312 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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
306 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Stephanie
301 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Katie
291 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) named Katie
The name Katie is a diminutive form of Katherine, which is derived from the Greek name Aikaterine. The meaning of the name is unclear, but it is thought to possibly mean "pure" or "clear". It has been a popular name in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Erin
289 baby girls born in Minnesota (1979) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Minnesota in 1979

In Minnesota, 1979, the most popular baby boy names were Michael, Matthew, Jason, Joshua, and Christopher. Michael was the most popular name with 1204 babies given the name, followed closely by Matthew with 1126 babies. Jason was the third most popular name with 948 babies, while Joshua and Christopher rounded out the top five with 892 and 832 babies given those names, respectively.

Michael

1204 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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

1126 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Jason

948 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Joshua

892 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Christopher

832 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Ryan
828 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Nicholas
761 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Andrew
740 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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
708 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
David
670 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Brian
645 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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
623 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
John
597 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Jeremy
577 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Adam
566 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Adam
The name Adam is of Hebrew origin and means "man" or "earth". It is also the name of the first man created by God in the Bible.
Eric
539 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
Nathan
523 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.
James
497 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Jeffrey
468 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Justin
462 baby boys born in Minnesota (1979) 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.