North carolina's most popular baby names in 2021

North Carolina is a state known for its rich history, beautiful scenery and warm hospitality. In 2021, the state also saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. According to the latest data, Olivia, Ava and Emma were the top three choices for baby girls, while Liam, Noah and William were the most popular picks for baby boys.

Olivia, with its Latin roots meaning "olive tree," has been a favorite among parents for several years now. Ava, a name of German origin meaning "life" or "bird," has also been gaining popularity in recent times. Emma, a classic name with German and English origins, meaning "universal" or "whole," has been a consistent favorite among parents for several generations. On the other hand, Liam, a name of Irish origin meaning "strong-willed warrior," has been a top choice for baby boys for several years now. Noah, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "rest" or "comfort," has also been a popular pick among parents. William, a classic name of English origin meaning "resolute protector," has also been a consistent favorite among parents for several generations.

Most popular baby girl names in North carolina in 2021

According to the latest data, the top 5 most popular baby girl names in North Carolina in 2021 are Olivia, Ava, Emma, Charlotte, and Amelia. Olivia takes the lead with 531 occurrences, followed closely by Ava with 465 occurrences, and Emma with 457 occurrences. Charlotte and Amelia round out the top 5 with 416 and 399 occurrences, respectively. These names have remained popular over the years and continue to be favored by parents in North Carolina.

Olivia

531 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) 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.
Ava

465 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Ava
The name Ava is of uncertain origin and meaning. It is believed to possibly be a variation of the name Eve or a shortened form of the name Aveline. Some sources suggest that it may also have Germanic roots and mean "desired" or "life" in Hebrew. However, the true meaning of the name Ava remains unknown.
Emma

457 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) 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.
Charlotte

416 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Charlotte
Charlotte is a female given name, a female form of the male name Charlot, a diminutive of Charles. It is of French origin meaning "free man" or "petite".
Amelia

399 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Amelia
The name Amelia is of Latin origin and means "work of the Lord" or "industrious".
Sophia
375 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Sophia
The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek.
Harper
364 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Harper
Harper is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is "harp player" or "one who plays the harp". It was originally a surname but has gained popularity as a given name in recent years.
Isabella
331 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Isabella
The name Isabella is of Italian and Spanish origin and means "God is my oath" or "devoted to God". It is a variant of the name Elizabeth.
Evelyn
298 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Evelyn
The name Evelyn is of English origin and is derived from the French name Aveline, which means "hazelnut". It is also believed to have roots in the Germanic name Avelina, which means "wished-for child" or "longed-for child". Overall, the name Evelyn is associated with sweetness, charm, and grace.
Mia
282 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Mia
The name Mia is of Scandinavian and Italian origin. It is derived from the Scandinavian name Maja, which means "bitter" or "sea of bitterness". In Italian, Mia means "mine" or "my".
Elizabeth
282 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) 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.
Eleanor
273 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Eleanor
The name Eleanor means "bright, shining one" or "compassionate" and is of Old French and Greek origin. It was originally derived from the name Aliénor, which was the Old French form of the name Helen.
Abigail
241 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Abigail
The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.
Ella
237 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Ella
The name Ella is of German origin and means "all, completely; fairy maiden". It is a short form of the name Eleanor or Ellen.
Avery
235 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Avery
The name Avery is of English origin and has multiple meanings. It can mean "ruler of the elves" or "wise". It is a unisex name, meaning it can be given to both boys and girls.
Layla
225 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Layla
The name Layla means "night" or "dark beauty."
Nova
225 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Nova
The name Nova is of Latin origin and means "new" or "young". It is often associated with the concept of a new star or a sudden bright light in the sky.
Willow
224 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Willow
Willow is a name derived from the name of the tree, which symbolizes flexibility, resilience, and grace.
Luna
222 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Luna
The name Luna is of Latin origin and means "moon". It is a name that has been used for both boys and girls, but is more commonly given to girls. The name has been popularized in recent years by the character Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series.
Nora
221 baby girls born in North carolina (2021) named Nora
The name Nora is of Irish origin and means "honor" or "light." It is a diminutive of the name Honora or Eleanor.

Most popular baby boy names in North carolina in 2021

According to the latest data, Liam is the most popular baby boy name in North Carolina in 2021 with 699 babies given this name. Noah is the second most popular name with 608 babies, followed by William with 561 babies. James and Oliver round out the top five with 476 and 467 babies given these names, respectively. These names have been popular for several years and continue to be favored by parents in North Carolina.

Liam

699 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Liam
The name Liam is of Irish origin and is a shortened form of the name Uilliam, which is the Irish version of the name William. The name Liam means "strong-willed warrior" or "protector".
Noah

608 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Noah
The name Noah is of Hebrew origin and means "rest" or "comfort". It is famously associated with the biblical character who built an ark to save his family and animals from a great flood.
William

561 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) 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.
James

476 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Oliver

467 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Oliver
Oliver is a name of English origin, derived from the Old French name Olivier. The name is believed to mean "olive tree" or "olive branch". It has been a popular name in England since the Middle Ages and has gained popularity in other English-speaking countries over time.
Henry
435 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Henry
The name Henry means "ruler of the household" or "estate ruler". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name for centuries.
Elijah
433 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Elijah
The name Elijah is of Hebrew origin and means "my God is Yahweh". It is a biblical name and is associated with the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament.
Jackson
409 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Jackson
The name Jackson is of English origin and means "son of Jack". It is a common surname that has been used as a first name since the 19th century.
Lucas
390 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Lucas
The name Lucas is a Latin name meaning "from Lucania," a region in southern Italy. It is derived from the Latin name Lucius, which means "light" or "illumination."
Levi
363 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Levi
The name Levi is of Hebrew origin and means "joined" or "attached". It is also associated with the biblical figure Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob and the patriarch of the Levites, the priestly tribe of Israel.
Mason
357 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Mason
The name Mason is of English origin and means "worker in stone". It is often associated with the occupation of stonemasonry and is a popular surname that has been used as a first name since the 19th century. The name has a strong and masculine sound to it and is often chosen for boys.
Grayson
346 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Grayson
Grayson is a name of English origin and means "son of the steward" or "son of the grey-haired one".
Benjamin
338 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Asher
319 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Asher
The name Asher is of Hebrew origin and means "happy" or "blessed". It is also associated with the idea of good fortune and prosperity.
Jack
315 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
John
314 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) 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.
Waylon
313 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Waylon
Waylon is a name of English origin, meaning "land by the road" or "path". It is typically given to boys.
Wyatt
310 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Wyatt
The name Wyatt is of English origin and means "brave in war".
Samuel
305 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Samuel
The name Samuel means "heard by God" or "asked of God". It is of Hebrew origin and is a biblical name. Samuel was a prophet and judge in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Carter
288 baby boys born in North carolina (2021) named Carter
The name Carter is of English origin and means "one who transports goods by cart". It is a surname that has been used as a given name since the 19th century. It is a popular name for boys in the United States.