Virginia's most popular baby names in 1988

In the state of Virginia, year 1988, the most popular baby girl names were Ashley, Jessica, and Amanda. Ashley was the most popular name, with 1,157 baby girls given that name. Jessica followed closely with 1,126, and Amanda came in third with 819.

For baby boys, the top names were Christopher, Michael, and Matthew. Christopher was the most popular name, with 1,107 baby boys given that name. Michael came in second with 1,042, and Matthew was third with 893.

These names have remained popular over the years, with some variations and changes. However, in 1988, these were the names that dominated the baby naming scene in Virginia.

Most popular baby girl names in Virginia in 1988

In 1988, the most popular baby girl names in Virginia were Ashley with 1443 occurrences, followed by Jessica with 1325 occurrences, Amanda with 1003 occurrences, Brittany with 884 occurrences, and Sarah with 802 occurrences.

Ashley

1443 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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

1325 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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

1003 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Brittany

884 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Sarah

802 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Jennifer
579 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Tiffany
569 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Elizabeth
558 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Heather
548 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Lauren
536 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Samantha
519 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Megan
479 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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
466 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Emily
434 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Amber
426 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Rachel
396 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Danielle
357 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Katherine
339 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) named Katherine
The name Katherine is of Greek origin and means "pure". It is a variant of the name Catherine.
Laura
333 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Nicole
329 baby girls born in Virginia (1988) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Virginia in 1988

In Virginia, 1988, the most popular baby boy names were Christopher, Michael, Matthew, Joshua, and James. Christopher was the most popular name with 1460 babies given that name, followed closely by Michael with 1396 babies. Matthew and Joshua were also popular choices, with 1131 and 1104 babies given those names, respectively. James rounded out the top five with 986 babies given that name.

Christopher

1460 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Michael

1396 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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

1131 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Joshua

1104 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
James

986 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Justin
892 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
John
857 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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
857 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
William
818 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Andrew
803 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Robert
784 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Daniel
751 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Brandon
731 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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".
Jonathan
658 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Joseph
647 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Ryan
590 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Thomas
519 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Brian
507 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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.
Kevin
495 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) 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".
Anthony
449 baby boys born in Virginia (1988) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".