South carolina's most popular baby names in 1986

In the year 1986, South Carolina witnessed a surge in newborns, and parents were spoilt for choice when it came to naming their little bundles of joy. The most popular baby girl names that year were Ashley, Jessica, and Amanda, while the top baby boy names were Christopher, Michael, and James.

Ashley, a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow," was the most popular choice for baby girls in South Carolina. Jessica, a Hebrew name meaning "God beholds," came in a close second, followed by Amanda, a Latin name meaning "worthy of love." For baby boys, Christopher, a Greek name meaning "bearer of Christ," took the top spot, followed by Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God," and James, an English name meaning "supplanter." These names continue to be popular choices for parents in South Carolina, and their timeless appeal ensures their place in the state's baby name history.

Most popular baby girl names in South carolina in 1986

In South Carolina in the year 1986, the most popular baby girl names were Ashley, Jessica, Amanda, Jennifer, and Brittany. Ashley was the most popular name with 837 babies given that name, followed closely by Jessica with 794 babies. Amanda was the third most popular name with 483 babies, Jennifer was fourth with 427 babies, and Brittany was fifth with 403 babies. These names were the top choices for parents in South Carolina for baby girls in 1986.

Ashley

837 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Jessica

794 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Amanda

483 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Jennifer

427 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Brittany

403 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Brittany
The name Brittany is derived from the region of Brittany in France. Its meaning is uncertain, but it is believed to come from the Latin word "Britannia," which means "Britain" or "of the Britons." It is also thought to be related to the Celtic word "breton," which means "from Brittany." The name is commonly given to girls in English-speaking countries.
Heather
328 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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
294 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Sarah
267 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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
263 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Lauren
251 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Kimberly
244 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Amber
243 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Amber
The name Amber is derived from the fossilized tree resin of the same name. It is believed to originate from the Arabic word "anbar," which means ambergris or amber. The name is often associated with the color of the gemstone, which ranges from a pale yellow to a deep orange-brown. The name Amber has been used for both boys and girls, but it is more commonly given to girls. The name is often associated with warmth, light, and energy.
Crystal
214 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Crystal
The name Crystal is of Greek origin and means "ice or clear". It is often associated with the mineral quartz crystal and is a popular name choice for girls.
Megan
213 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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".
Stephanie
202 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Whitney
181 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Whitney
Whitney is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is "white island" or "white meadow".
Courtney
181 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Courtney
The name Courtney is of English origin and means "from the court". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to girls.
Melissa
163 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Mary
162 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Mary
Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.
Katherine
160 baby girls born in South carolina (1986) named Katherine
The name Katherine is of Greek origin and means "pure". It is a variant of the name Catherine.

Most popular baby boy names in South carolina in 1986

In South Carolina in 1986, Christopher was the most popular name for baby boys, with 882 babies given that name. Michael and James followed closely behind, with 742 and 674 babies given those names, respectively. William and Brandon rounded out the top five, with 560 and 557 babies given those names, respectively.

Christopher

882 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Michael

742 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
James

674 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William

560 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Brandon

557 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Brandon
The name Brandon is of English origin and is derived from the Old English words "brom" meaning "broom" or "gorse" and "dun" meaning "hill". Therefore, the name Brandon means "hill covered in broom or gorse".
Joshua
553 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Matthew
522 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
John
466 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
David
443 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Robert
432 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Justin
409 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Jonathan
407 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Daniel
324 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Andrew
310 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Joseph
297 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Charles
271 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Charles
The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.
Jason
267 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Thomas
247 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.
Timothy
222 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) named Timothy
The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.
Brian
220 baby boys born in South carolina (1986) 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.