New jersey's most popular baby names in 1986

In the year 1986, the state of New Jersey saw a surge in the popularity of three baby girl names: Jessica, Jennifer, and Ashley. These names were the top three most popular baby girl names in the state that year. Jessica, which means "God beholds" in Hebrew, was the most popular name for baby girls in New Jersey in 1986. Jennifer, which means "white wave" in Welsh, came in second place, followed closely by Ashley, which means "ash tree meadow" in Old English.

For baby boys, the top three most popular names in New Jersey in 1986 were Michael, Christopher, and Matthew. Michael, which means "who is like God" in Hebrew, was the most popular name for baby boys in the state that year. Christopher, which means "bearer of Christ" in Greek, came in second place, followed by Matthew, which means "gift of God" in Hebrew. These three names have remained popular choices for baby boys in New Jersey and across the United States for several decades.

Most popular baby girl names in New jersey in 1986

In 1986, the most popular baby girl names in New Jersey were Jessica, Jennifer, Ashley, Amanda, and Nicole. Jessica was the most popular name, with 1605 babies being given that name. Jennifer came in second place with 1253 babies, followed by Ashley with 1020 babies. Amanda and Nicole rounded out the top five with 1014 and 973 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time, and continue to be popular choices for baby girls today.

Jessica

1605 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Jennifer

1253 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Ashley

1020 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Amanda

1014 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Nicole

973 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Lauren
846 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Stephanie
741 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Melissa
698 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Danielle
673 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Christina
560 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Sarah
508 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Elizabeth
499 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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
459 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Megan
453 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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".
Kimberly
443 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) named Kimberly
The name Kimberly means "from the wood of the royal forest" or "royal fortress meadow". It is of Old English origin and was first used as a given name in the 1940s.
Kelly
442 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Michelle
440 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Samantha
434 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Heather
420 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Christine
400 baby girls born in New jersey (1986) named Christine
The name Christine is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ".

Most popular baby boy names in New jersey in 1986

In New Jersey, 1986, Michael was the most popular name for baby boys, with 2650 babies given that name. Christopher came in second place with 1757 babies named, followed by Matthew with 1475 babies named. Daniel was the fourth most popular name with 1411 babies given that name, and Joseph rounded out the top five with 1186 babies named.

Michael

2650 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Christopher

1757 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Matthew

1475 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Daniel

1411 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Joseph

1186 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
David
1163 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Robert
1149 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
John
1104 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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
1019 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Andrew
951 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Anthony
931 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Ryan
866 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Brian
848 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Thomas
796 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Kevin
779 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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".
William
766 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Jonathan
730 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.
Jason
705 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Steven
647 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Nicholas
622 baby boys born in New jersey (1986) 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.