Pennsylvania's most popular baby names in 1984

In the year 1984, the state of Pennsylvania saw a surge in popularity of certain baby names. Jennifer, Jessica, and Ashley were the top three baby girl names that year. Jennifer, meaning "white wave," held the top spot for the third consecutive year. Jessica, meaning "God beholds," came in second place, followed closely by Ashley, meaning "ash tree meadow."

For baby boys, the names Michael, Matthew, and Christopher were the most popular choices. Michael, meaning "who is like God," held the top spot for the eighth consecutive year. Matthew, meaning "gift of God," came in second place, and Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ," rounded out the top three. These classic names have remained popular over the years and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in Pennsylvania in 1984

In 1984, the most popular baby girl names in Pennsylvania were Jennifer, Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, and Nicole. Jennifer was the most popular name with 2230 babies being named that, followed closely by Jessica with 2002 babies. Ashley, Amanda, and Nicole rounded out the top five with 1810, 1658, and 1486 babies being named those names respectively.

Jennifer

2230 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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

2002 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Ashley

1810 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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

1658 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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

1486 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Melissa
1114 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Sarah
1102 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Heather
1080 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Stephanie
1062 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Lauren
1059 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Megan
1034 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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".
Danielle
917 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Elizabeth
908 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Amy
806 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Laura
804 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Rachel
788 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Rachel
The name Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means "ewe" or "female sheep". It is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and has been used since biblical times. The name is often associated with qualities such as beauty, grace, and kindness.
Erin
764 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Kelly
742 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Rebecca
711 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Michelle
691 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Pennsylvania in 1984

In Pennsylvania in 1984, the most popular baby boy names were Michael, Matthew, Christopher, David, and Joshua. Michael was the most popular name with 3735 babies given that name, followed by Matthew with 2945, Christopher with 2458, David with 1933, and Joshua with 1786. These names were likely influenced by cultural and social trends of the time, as well as traditional family naming practices.

Michael

3735 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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

2945 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher

2458 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
David

1933 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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

1786 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Daniel
1781 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Joseph
1741 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
John
1733 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Robert
1658 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Ryan
1634 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Jason
1618 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
James
1593 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Andrew
1442 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Brian
1359 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Justin
1313 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
William
1237 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Adam
1206 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Thomas
1087 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.
Anthony
1044 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Jonathan
1021 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (1984) 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.