What Was the Most Popular Name in Your State?

Names like John and Mary have long been staples in the United States, at least since 1880. But name popularity varies by year.

If you were a child of the 1980s, you might very well be named Jessica, Ashley, Christopher, or Michael, or have a lot of friends with those names on your Facebook feed. That’s because according to census data on the U.S. Social Security website, those were the names that ruled the nation.

That said, it probably depends on where in America you were born because the top name varies a bit by region. Let’s look at the most popular baby names over the last 30 years.

The Most Popular Names in 2015

In 2015 the most popular names in the United States were Noah and Emma. But names like Liam (or the longer William) were popular in the South and Pacific Northwest and across the center of the country.

And then there are states like Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts where names like Henry, Jackson, and Benjamin rose to the top of local heap for boys.

For girls, Emma and Olivia took over most of the country. But in the South, a lot of parents named their little girls Ava.

And then there’s Washington, which had the combo of Oliver and Olivia as the state’s top two. Kindergarten teachers are going to have their work cut out for them in a few years with that pair of names!

How Does Today Compare to 2000?

And it’s surprising that in just 15 years, the most popular names have fallen out of favor so quickly. In 2000, Jacob, Michael, Emily, and Hannah took over nearly the entire country.

Though Hawaii did buck the trend and go with Joshua and Kayla as the most popular baby names.

Was Your Name a Favorite in 1985?

Fifteen years prior, in 1985, Michael was already a popular moniker, though Christopher took over as number one for boys in more than half of the country.

Jessica, Ashley, and Jennifer dominated the female names for that time period.

There were very few states (like Kentucky and Minnesota) that bucked the trend by selecting Joshua or Matthew for their baby boys. And a couple (like Wisconsin) preferred Amanda for their girls.

Does Your Family Follow Naming Trends?

If you want to see how your name ranked by year, or by state for that year, you can find that information on the Social Security website.

Also, it’s fun to see how your family’s name choices stack up against the rest of the country over the years.

Is your family tree filled with branches that follow naming trends? Or do your family members tend to be more original? Enter your name below to start exploring your family history.

Start uncovering your family history today with a free 14-day trial on Ancestry.com.

— Angel Cohn