West virginia's most popular baby names in 1976

In 1976, West Virginia saw a surge in popular baby names for both boys and girls. The top baby girl names were Jennifer, Melissa, and Amy, while the top baby boy names were Michael, Jason, and James.

Jennifer was the most popular name for baby girls in West Virginia that year, with Melissa and Amy following closely behind. For baby boys, Michael took the top spot, with Jason and James not far behind. These names have remained popular over the years, with many parents still choosing them for their babies today.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1976

In 1976, the most popular baby girl names in West Virginia were Jennifer with 517 occurrences, followed by Melissa with 389, Amy with 355, Heather with 340, and Angela with 330. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends of the time.

Jennifer

517 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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

389 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Amy

355 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Heather

340 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Angela

330 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Amanda
231 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Stephanie
213 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Crystal
206 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Rebecca
204 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Kimberly
201 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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
194 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Michelle
194 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Christina
188 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Misty
185 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) named Misty
The name Misty means covered in mist or fog.
Mary
151 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Jamie
148 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) named Jamie
The name Jamie is a unisex name of English origin. Its meaning is uncertain, but it is believed to be a diminutive form of James or Jacob, which means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel".
Jessica
134 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
April
134 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Sarah
129 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Shannon
113 baby girls born in West virginia (1976) named Shannon
The name Shannon is of Irish origin and is derived from the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. The name means "wise river" or "old river". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1976

Based on the data from West Virginia in 1976, Michael was the most popular name for baby boys with a total of 665 babies given that name. Jason came in second place with 645 babies named, followed by James with 519 babies named. Christopher was the fourth most popular name with 483 babies given that name, while David rounded out the top five with 438 babies named.

Michael

665 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Jason

645 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
James

519 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Christopher

483 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
David

438 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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
421 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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
389 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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
377 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Brian
314 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Matthew
285 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Jeremy
256 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Joseph
249 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Charles
233 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Eric
228 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Kevin
202 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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".
Timothy
199 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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.
Richard
176 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Steven
176 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Chad
172 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) named Chad
The name Chad means "warrior" or "battle" and has Old English origins.
Thomas
167 baby boys born in West virginia (1976) 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.