Rhode island's most popular baby names in 1978

In Rhode Island, the year 1978 saw a surge in popularity for certain baby names. Among baby girls, Jennifer was the most popular name, followed closely by Jessica and Melissa. These names were likely inspired by popular culture, as Jennifer was the name of the lead character in the hit TV show "Eight is Enough," and Jessica was the name of the main character in the popular novel "The World According to Garp."

For baby boys, the most popular names in Rhode Island in 1978 were Michael, Jason, and David. These names were all classic choices that had been popular for many years, and they continued to be favored by parents throughout the 1970s. Michael in particular was a perennial favorite, having been the most popular name for baby boys in the United States for several years running.

Overall, the top baby names in Rhode Island in 1978 reflected a mix of classic and trendy choices, with parents opting for names that were both timeless and contemporary.

Most popular baby girl names in Rhode island in 1978

According to the data from Rhode Island in 1978, the top 5 most popular baby girl names were Jennifer with 283 occurrences, followed by Jessica with 177 occurrences, Melissa with 175 occurrences, Heather with 109 occurrences, and Lisa with 106 occurrences. These names were the most commonly chosen by parents for their baby girls in Rhode Island during that year.

Jennifer

283 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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

177 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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

175 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Heather

109 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Lisa

106 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Amy
102 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Erin
88 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Nicole
86 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Michelle
85 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Elizabeth
85 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Sarah
84 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Christine
75 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) named Christine
The name Christine is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ".
Kelly
71 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Stephanie
69 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Rebecca
68 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Kristen
58 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) named Kristen
The name Kristen is of Scandinavian origin and is a variation of the name Christine. It means "follower of Christ" or "anointed one".
Kimberly
57 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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
53 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Amanda
52 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Danielle
46 baby girls born in Rhode island (1978) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".

Most popular baby boy names in Rhode island in 1978

In Rhode Island in 1978, the most popular baby boy name was Michael, with a total of 412 babies given that name. The next four most popular names were Jason, David, Matthew, and Christopher, with 226, 204, 201, and 188 babies given those names, respectively. These were the top five baby boy names in the state during that year.

Michael

412 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Jason

226 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
David

204 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Matthew

201 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher

188 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
John
168 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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
163 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Joseph
144 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Brian
133 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
James
126 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Daniel
124 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Steven
101 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
William
99 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Kevin
98 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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".
Eric
89 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Jeffrey
88 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Paul
82 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) named Paul
The name Paul is of Latin origin and means "small" or "humble". It was originally derived from the Roman family name Paulus, which was a common name in ancient Rome. The name has been popularized by various saints and biblical figures, including the apostle Paul, who was a significant figure in the early Christian church.
Thomas
80 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Joshua
80 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.
Nicholas
74 baby boys born in Rhode island (1978) 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.