New york's most popular baby names in 1981

In the year 1981, the state of New York saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Jennifer, Jessica, and Melissa topped the charts, while for baby boys, Michael, Christopher, and Jason were the most popular names.

Jennifer, derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, meaning "white wave," held the top spot for baby girls for the second year in a row. Jessica, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "God beholds," followed closely behind. Melissa, a Greek name meaning "honeybee," rounded out the top three. For baby boys, Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God," held the number one spot for the eighth year in a row. Christopher, a name with Greek origins meaning "bearer of Christ," came in second place, followed by Jason, a name with Greek roots meaning "healer." These names were not only popular in New York but across the United States, reflecting the cultural trends of the time.

Most popular baby girl names in New york in 1981

In 1981, Jennifer was the most popular baby girl name in New York, with 3836 babies given that name. The second most popular name was Jessica, with 3143 babies named that. Melissa came in third with 2105 babies named that, followed by Nicole with 1959 and Sarah with 1457.

Jennifer

3836 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Jessica

3143 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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

2105 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Nicole

1959 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Sarah

1457 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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
1403 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Michelle
1369 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Danielle
1216 baby girls born in New york (1981) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Amanda
1208 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Lisa
1205 baby girls born in New york (1981) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Stephanie
1112 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Kimberly
1094 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Christina
1088 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Amy
1003 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Lauren
983 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Rebecca
938 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Erin
929 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Heather
924 baby girls born in New york (1981) 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.
Tiffany
882 baby girls born in New york (1981) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Christine
880 baby girls born in New york (1981) named Christine
The name Christine is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ".

Most popular baby boy names in New york in 1981

In 1981, Michael was the most popular baby boy name in New York with 5,993 babies given that name. Christopher followed in second place with 3,444 babies named that, while Jason came in third with 2,894 babies. David and Joseph were also popular names, with 2,841 and 2,773 babies given those names, respectively. These five names were the most commonly chosen for baby boys in New York that year.

Michael

5993 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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

3444 baby boys born in New york (1981) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Jason

2894 baby boys born in New york (1981) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
David

2841 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
Joseph

2773 baby boys born in New york (1981) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Matthew
2740 baby boys born in New york (1981) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
John
2537 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
Daniel
2425 baby boys born in New york (1981) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Robert
2389 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
James
2256 baby boys born in New york (1981) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Brian
2002 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
Anthony
1877 baby boys born in New york (1981) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
William
1597 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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
1527 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
Joshua
1437 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
Thomas
1436 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
Eric
1410 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.
Kevin
1396 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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".
Richard
1388 baby boys born in New york (1981) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Andrew
1330 baby boys born in New york (1981) 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.