West virginia's most popular baby names in 1972

In the year 1972, the state of West Virginia saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Melissa, Jennifer, and Angela were the top choices among parents. These names exude a sense of femininity and grace, which may have contributed to their popularity.

On the other hand, for baby boys, the names Michael, James, and Christopher were the most commonly chosen. These names have a strong and classic feel to them, which may have appealed to parents looking for a traditional name for their son. Overall, these names were a reflection of the cultural and social trends of the time, and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1972

In West Virginia in 1972, the top 5 most popular baby girl names were Melissa, Jennifer, Angela, Lisa, and Michelle. Melissa was the most popular name with 457 babies given that name, followed closely by Jennifer with 425 babies. Angela, Lisa, and Michelle rounded out the top 5 with 351, 345, and 309 babies given those names, respectively.

Melissa

457 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Jennifer

425 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Angela

351 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Lisa

345 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Michelle

309 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Kimberly
291 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Amy
290 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Tammy
242 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Rebecca
225 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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
215 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Mary
189 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Heather
166 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Tina
158 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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."
Teresa
155 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Christina
142 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Crystal
132 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Lori
132 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Elizabeth
119 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Susan
116 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Tracy
115 baby girls born in West virginia (1972) named Tracy
The name Tracy is of Irish origin and means "warrior" or "fighter". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1972

In West Virginia, 1972, Michael was the most popular baby boy name with 718 babies given that name. James came in second with 608 babies, followed by Christopher with 533 babies. David and John were tied for fourth place with 506 babies each. These were the top five most popular names for baby boys in West Virginia during that year.

Michael

718 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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

608 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Christopher

533 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
David

506 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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

505 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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
493 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Brian
441 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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.
William
378 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Charles
294 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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
259 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Steven
255 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Mark
248 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Kevin
241 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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
240 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Jeffrey
217 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Eric
216 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Timothy
213 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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.
Thomas
207 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) 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
202 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Matthew
173 baby boys born in West virginia (1972) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".