Pennsylvania's most popular baby names in 2012

In 2012, Pennsylvania saw a rise in the popularity of classic names for baby girls. Emma, Sophia, and Ava topped the charts as the most popular names for little girls. Emma, a name with German roots meaning "universal," has been a favorite for years and continues to be a popular choice for parents. Sophia, a name with Greek origins meaning "wisdom," has been gaining popularity in recent years, while Ava, a name with Latin roots meaning "life," has been a consistent favorite among parents.

For baby boys, the top names were Mason, Liam, and Jacob. Mason, a name with English origins meaning "worker in stone," has been a popular choice for parents in recent years. Liam, a name with Irish roots meaning "strong-willed warrior," has been steadily rising in popularity over the past decade. Jacob, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "supplanter," has been a consistent favorite among parents for many years.

Overall, the most popular baby names in Pennsylvania in 2012 reflected a mix of classic and modern names, with parents choosing names with a variety of meanings and origins for their little ones.

Most popular baby girl names in Pennsylvania in 2012

In Pennsylvania in 2012, the top five most popular baby girl names were Emma, Sophia, Ava, Olivia, and Isabella. Emma was the most popular with 875 babies given that name, followed closely by Sophia with 866. Ava, Olivia, and Isabella rounded out the top five with 775, 774, and 715 babies given those names, respectively.

Emma

875 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Sophia

866 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Sophia
The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek.
Ava

775 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Olivia

774 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Isabella

715 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Madison
528 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Madison
The name Madison is of English origin and has two possible meanings. One interpretation is that it means "son of Matthew," while another suggests it means "gift of God." It became a popular name for girls in the 1980s and 1990s, likely due to its association with the character Madison in the movie "Splash."
Abigail
502 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Abigail
The name Abigail means "my father's joy" or "source of joy" in Hebrew.
Emily
487 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Emily
The name Emily means "rival" or "industrious" and is of Latin origin. It became popular in the 19th century and is still a commonly used name today.
Mia
416 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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".
Aubrey
402 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Aubrey
The name Aubrey is of English origin and its meaning is "ruler of elves" or "fair ruler".
Ella
392 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Addison
387 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Addison
The name Addison is of English origin and means "son of Adam". It is a unisex name that has become more popular as a girl's name in recent years.
Lily
372 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Lily
The name Lily is derived from the flower of the same name, which symbolizes purity, innocence, and beauty. The name is often associated with these characteristics and is popular among parents looking for a feminine and graceful name for their daughter.
Grace
361 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Grace
The name Grace means "elegance" or "charm" and is derived from the Latin word "gratia". It is often associated with the Christian concept of divine grace, which is the unmerited favor and love of God towards humanity. The name has been popular for centuries and is still commonly used today.
Elizabeth
346 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Chloe
342 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Chloe
The name Chloe means "young green shoot" or "blooming" in Greek. It is a popular name for girls and has been used in various cultures throughout history.
Charlotte
341 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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".
Avery
324 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Hannah
314 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Hannah
The name Hannah means "grace" or "favor" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that was borne by the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament. The name has been popular among Christians for centuries and is still commonly used today.
Lillian
313 baby girls born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Lillian
The name Lillian means "pure" or "innocent" and is of English origin. It is a variant of the name Lily and is often associated with the flower of the same name. Lillian has been a popular name for girls since the late 19th century.

Most popular baby boy names in Pennsylvania in 2012

According to data from 2012, the most popular baby boy names in Pennsylvania were Mason, Liam, Jacob, Michael, and Noah. Mason was the most popular with 870 babies given that name, followed closely by Liam with 783 and Jacob with 761. Michael and Noah rounded out the top five with 737 and 704 babies given those names, respectively.

Mason

870 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Liam

783 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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".
Jacob

761 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Jacob
The name Jacob means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that was borne by one of the patriarchs of the Old Testament.
Michael

737 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Noah

704 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Ryan
615 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Ethan
615 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Ethan
The name Ethan means "firm, strong, enduring" and is of Hebrew origin.
Logan
609 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Logan
The name Logan is of Scottish origin and means "small hollow" or "little hollow". It is derived from the Gaelic word "lagan", which refers to a small valley or hollow.
Benjamin
581 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
John
563 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Joseph
563 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
William
558 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Jayden
544 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Jayden
The name Jayden is of modern origin and its meaning is uncertain. It is believed to be a combination of the names Jay and Aidan, or a variation of the name Jadon which means "thankful" or "God has heard".
Aiden
540 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Aiden
The name Aiden means "fiery one" or "little fire" in Gaelic. It is a popular name for boys in the United States and has been consistently ranked in the top 100 names for several years.
Jackson
529 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
James
524 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Matthew
519 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Carter
500 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) 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.
Anthony
496 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Alexander
492 baby boys born in Pennsylvania (2012) named Alexander
The name Alexander means "defender of the people" or "protector of mankind". It is of Greek origin and is a popular name for boys.