West virginia's most popular baby names in 1988

In the year 1988, West Virginia saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Ashley, Jessica, and Amanda were the top three names that parents chose for their little ones. These names were not only popular in West Virginia but were also trending across the United States.

On the other hand, for baby boys, Joshua, Justin, and Michael were the most popular names. These names were classic, timeless, and had been popular for several years. Parents in West Virginia seemed to gravitate towards these names as they were easy to pronounce, easy to spell, and had a strong meaning behind them. Overall, the year 1988 saw a mix of classic and modern names, with parents choosing names that were both trendy and meaningful for their children.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1988

In 1988, the top 5 most popular baby girl names in West Virginia were Ashley, Jessica, Amanda, Brittany, and Kayla. Ashley was the most popular name with 419 babies given that name, followed by Jessica with 348, Amanda with 340, Brittany with 270, and Kayla with 239.

Ashley

419 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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

348 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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

340 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Brittany

270 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Kayla

239 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Sarah
228 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Tiffany
187 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) named Tiffany
The name Tiffany is of Greek origin and means "God's appearance" or "manifestation of God".
Amber
186 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Samantha
183 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Megan
170 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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".
Heather
163 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Jennifer
156 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Stephanie
127 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Emily
114 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) named Emily
The name Emily means "rival" or "industrious" and is of Latin origin. It became popular in the 19th century and is still a commonly used name today.
Courtney
102 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) named Courtney
The name Courtney is of English origin and means "from the court". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to girls.
Rachel
97 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) named Rachel
The name Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means "ewe" or "female sheep". It is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and has been used since biblical times. The name is often associated with qualities such as beauty, grace, and kindness.
Elizabeth
96 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Amy
95 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Rebecca
79 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Danielle
77 baby girls born in West virginia (1988) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1988

In West Virginia in 1988, the most popular baby boy names were Joshua, Justin, Michael, Christopher, and Matthew. Joshua was the most popular name, given to 462 baby boys, followed closely by Justin with 412. Michael came in third with 336, followed by Christopher with 333, and Matthew with 288. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends at the time, as well as family traditions and personal preferences.

Joshua

462 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Justin

412 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Michael

336 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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

333 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Matthew

288 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
James
285 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert
239 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Andrew
223 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
David
213 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Brandon
205 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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".
William
200 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
John
192 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Zachary
188 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Ryan
171 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Joseph
162 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jonathan
151 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Timothy
150 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.
Jeremy
149 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) named Jeremy
The name Jeremy is of Hebrew origin and means "appointed by God" or "God will uplift".
Aaron
141 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) named Aaron
The name Aaron means "mountain of strength" or "enlightened" and is of Hebrew origin. It is a biblical name, borne by the brother of Moses in the Old Testament. Aaron is a popular name for boys in many cultures.
Adam
137 baby boys born in West virginia (1988) 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.