West virginia's most popular baby names in 1973

In the year 1973, West Virginia saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names, with Jennifer, Melissa, and Angela taking the lead for baby girls, while James, Michael, and Christopher were the most popular names for baby boys. These names were not only popular in West Virginia, but across the United States as well.

The name Jennifer, which means "white wave" or "fair one," has been a popular name since the 1960s and continued to be a top choice into the 1970s. Melissa, meaning "honey bee," also gained popularity during this time. Angela, meaning "angel," was a classic name that remained popular throughout the decade. For baby boys, James, Michael, and Christopher were timeless names that continued to be popular choices for parents in West Virginia and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1973

In 1973, the most popular baby girl names in West Virginia were Jennifer, Melissa, Angela, Amy, and Michelle. Jennifer was the most popular name with 426 babies given that name, followed by Melissa with 384 babies, Angela with 338 babies, Amy with 298 babies, and Michelle with 269 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends of the time.

Jennifer

426 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Melissa

384 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Angela

338 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Amy

298 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Michelle

269 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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
241 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Lisa
237 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Stephanie
229 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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
216 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Tammy
187 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Heather
185 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Mary
173 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Lori
142 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Christina
142 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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
130 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Tina
121 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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."
April
121 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) named April
April is a feminine given name that is derived from the name of the fourth month of the year. The name April has no specific meaning beyond being associated with the spring season in which the month of April falls.
Kelly
114 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Tonya
113 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) named Tonya
The name Tonya is a feminine given name of uncertain origin and meaning. It is believed to be a variant of the name Tanya or Tania, which may have Slavic or Latin roots. The name Tonya has been popularized in the United States since the mid-20th century.
Susan
112 baby girls born in West virginia (1973) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1973

According to the data from 1973, the top 5 most popular baby boy names in West Virginia were James, Michael, Christopher, David, and John. James was the most popular name with 624 babies given that name, followed by Michael with 570 babies, Christopher with 535 babies, David with 465 babies, and John with 451 babies. These names were the most commonly chosen by parents for their baby boys in West Virginia that year.

James

624 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Michael

570 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Christopher

535 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
David

465 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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

451 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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
435 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Jason
407 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
Brian
397 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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
388 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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
270 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Matthew
243 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Kevin
235 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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
220 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Mark
209 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Eric
202 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Thomas
199 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Steven
198 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Joseph
193 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Timothy
180 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) 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.
Jeffrey
174 baby boys born in West virginia (1973) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.