West virginia's most popular baby names in 1985

In the year 1985, West Virginia witnessed a surge in baby names that were both traditional and trendy. Among the top baby girl names were Ashley, Jessica, and Amanda. These names were popular not just in West Virginia but across the United States. Ashley, meaning "ash tree meadow," has been a popular name for girls since the 1980s. Jessica, meaning "God beholds," has been a favorite name among parents since the 1970s. Amanda, meaning "worthy of love," has been a classic name for girls since the 1800s.

For baby boys, the top names in West Virginia in 1985 were Joshua, Christopher, and Michael. Joshua, meaning "God is salvation," has been a popular name among Christian parents for decades. Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ," has been a classic name for boys since the Middle Ages. Michael, meaning "who is like God," has been a favorite name among parents of different cultures and religions. These names not only reflect the cultural and religious diversity of West Virginia but also the timeless appeal of traditional baby names.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1985

In 1985, the most popular baby girl names in West Virginia were Ashley, Jessica, Amanda, Jennifer, and Brittany. Ashley was the most popular name, with 454 babies given that name. Jessica and Amanda followed closely behind with 415 and 401 babies respectively. Jennifer and Brittany rounded out the top five with 292 and 235 babies given those names.

Ashley

454 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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

415 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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

401 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Jennifer

292 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Brittany

235 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Heather
225 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Sarah
215 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Amber
197 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Megan
182 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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
162 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Tiffany
142 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Crystal
132 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Elizabeth
132 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Samantha
125 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Amy
119 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Melissa
115 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Rebecca
110 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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
105 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Mary
103 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Nicole
100 baby girls born in West virginia (1985) 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 West virginia in 1985

According to the records of West Virginia in 1985, the top 5 most popular baby boy names were Joshua, Christopher, Michael, James, and Matthew. Joshua was the most popular with 529 babies given that name, followed closely by Christopher with 486 babies. Michael came in third with 410 babies named that, while James and Matthew tied for fourth place with 374 babies each.

Joshua

529 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Christopher

486 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Michael

410 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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

374 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Matthew

374 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Brandon
349 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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".
Justin
292 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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.
David
288 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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
252 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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
244 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Joseph
239 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jason
222 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
William
221 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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
213 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Daniel
212 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Jonathan
210 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Adam
195 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named Adam
The name Adam is of Hebrew origin and means "man" or "earth". It is also the name of the first man created by God in the Bible.
Jeremy
185 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Ryan
179 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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.
Charles
164 baby boys born in West virginia (1985) 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.