West virginia's most popular baby names in 1971

In the year 1971, West Virginia saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Melissa, Lisa, and Angela were the most popular names chosen by parents. These names have a classic and timeless feel to them, with Melissa meaning "honey bee," Lisa meaning "pledged to God," and Angela meaning "messenger of God."

On the other hand, for baby boys, James, Michael, and David were the top choices. These names have a strong and traditional vibe to them, with James meaning "supplanter," Michael meaning "who is like God," and David meaning "beloved." It's clear that parents in West Virginia in 1971 favored names that were meaningful and had a sense of history and tradition.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1971

In 1971, the most popular baby girl names in West Virginia were Melissa, Lisa, Angela, Jennifer, and Kimberly. Melissa was the most popular name with 454 babies given that name, followed closely by Lisa with 388 babies. Angela, Jennifer, and Kimberly were also popular choices with 366, 365, and 360 babies given those names, respectively.

Melissa

454 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Lisa

388 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Angela

366 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Angela
The name Angela is derived from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger of God". It is a feminine name that has been used in various cultures and languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and German. Angela is often associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and grace.
Jennifer

365 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Kimberly

360 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Tammy
320 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Tammy
The name Tammy is a diminutive form of the name Tamara, which has Hebrew origins and means "palm tree" or "date tree". The exact meaning of Tammy is unclear, but it is generally considered to be a modern English name that is derived from Tamara.
Michelle
306 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Amy
265 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Mary
218 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Rebecca
188 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Stephanie
177 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Tina
166 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Tina
The name Tina is a diminutive form of Christina, which is derived from the Greek name Christos, meaning "anointed one" or "follower of Christ." Therefore, the name Tina can be interpreted as "follower of Christ" or "anointed one."
Lori
156 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Lori
The name Lori is a short form of the name Lorraine or Laurence. Its origin and meaning are uncertain, but it is believed to have French or Latin roots. Some sources suggest that it may mean "crowned with laurel" or "victorious." However, the exact meaning of the name Lori remains unknown.
Susan
154 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Susan
The name Susan means "lily" or "graceful lily" in Hebrew. It was a popular name in the 1940s and 1950s, but has since declined in popularity.
Heather
148 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Teresa
144 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Teresa
The name Teresa is derived from the Greek name Therasia, which means "harvester" or "reaper". It has also been associated with the Spanish word "teresa", meaning "to harvest". The name has been popularized by Saint Teresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic and writer who lived in the 16th century. The name is commonly given to girls and is of Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian origin.
Cynthia
140 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Cynthia
The name Cynthia means "moon goddess" or "from Mount Kynthos" in Greek. It is also associated with the Greek mythological figure Artemis, who was known as the goddess of the hunt and the moon. The name Cynthia has been in use since ancient times and has remained relatively popular throughout history.
Christina
136 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Pamela
124 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Pamela
The name Pamela is of Greek origin and means "all sweetness" or "honeyed". It was first popularized by Sir Philip Sidney in his pastoral romance "Arcadia" (1590) and later by Samuel Richardson in his novel "Pamela" (1740).
Julie
122 baby girls born in West virginia (1971) named Julie
The name Julie is a French name that means "youthful" or "full of energy". It is derived from the Latin name Julia, which means "soft-haired" or "youthful".

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1971

In West Virginia in 1971, the most popular baby boy names were James, Michael, David, John, and Robert. James topped the list with 708 babies given this name, followed closely by Michael with 677 babies. David was the third most popular name with 555 babies named, while John and Robert rounded out the top five with 522 and 494 babies given these names, respectively. These classic names continue to be popular choices for parents today.

James

708 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Michael

677 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
David

555 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
John

522 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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

494 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
William
473 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Christopher
451 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Brian
371 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Charles
294 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Kevin
257 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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".
Richard
256 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Jeffrey
251 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Mark
250 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Mark
The name Mark is derived from the Latin name "Marcus" which means "dedicated to Mars", the Roman god of war. It is a popular name among Christians as it is the name of one of the four Gospel writers in the New Testament. The name Mark is also associated with qualities such as courage, strength, and leadership.
Timothy
246 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Jason
230 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Steven
229 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Scott
227 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Scott
The name Scott is of Scottish origin and means "from Scotland" or "wanderer". It is a common surname that has been used as a first name since the 19th century.
Thomas
218 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.
Joseph
204 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Eric
195 baby boys born in West virginia (1971) 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.