Which baby names were the most popular in each U.S. state in 2020? And which names only popped up in the data for a single state in 2020? Here are the answers! (Any unique name that also appeared in last year’s post is in boldface.)
Alabama
- Alabama’s top girl name: Ava
- Alabama’s top boy name: William
- Alabama’s 7 unique girl names: Emoree, Khylie, Petrona, Annalynn, Jailee, Kaloni, Loxley
- Alabama’s 7 unique boy names: Kyser, Mills, Johnluke, Kamar, Kendarius, Saylor, Xzavion
Alaska
- Alaska’s top girl name: Amelia
- Alaska’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Arizona
- Arizona’s top girl name: Olivia
- Arizona’s top boy name: Liam
- Arizona’s 3 unique girl names: Zo, Ariza, Payson
- Arizona’s 2 unique boy names: Iram, Quill
Arkansas
- Arkansas’s top girl name: Olivia
- Arkansas’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names
- No unique boy names.
California
- California’s top girl name: Olivia
- California’s top boy name: Noah
- California’s top 10 unique girl names: Sequoia, Emiko, Rey, Melrose, Roxanna, Shaila, Briseida, Ara, Cathy, Koa (total of 551)
- California’s top 10 unique boy names: Slater, Curren, Armen, Fateh, Agam, Angad, Gurbaaz, Subhan, Yash, Ojas (total of 394)
Colorado
- Colorado’s top girl name: Olivia
- Colorado’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Connecticut
- Connecticut’s top girl name: Olivia
- Connecticut’s top boy name: Noah
- No unique girl names.
- Connecticut’s 1 unique boy name: Henrique
Delaware
- Delaware’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Delaware’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
District of Columbia
- D.C.’s top girl name: Olivia
- D.C.’s top boy name: William
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Florida
- Florida’s top girl name: Emma
- Florida’s top boy name: Liam
- Florida’s top 10 unique girl names: Abigaelle, Harbor, Allana, Breeze, Forever, Jaziyah, Railyn, Aniyla, Arielis, Dalani (total of 81)
- Florida’s top 10 unique boy names: Aramis, Jaheim, Javaris, Maleek, Caio, Jahleel, Jeriel, Kamir, Marvens, Amyr (total of 81)
Georgia
- Georgia’s top girl name: Ava
- Georgia’s top boy name: Liam
- Georgia’s top 10 unique girl names: Harmonii, Emmagrace, Kaior, Kiersten, Maebry, Makiya, Aloni, Jersi, Allura, Amalie (total of 25)
- Georgia’s top 10 unique boy names: Antwon, Kiari, Woods, Elnathan, Jalil, Javontae, Keigan, Londyn, Mansa, Rhylan (total of 30)
Hawaii
- Hawaii’s top girl name: Olivia
- Hawaii’s top boy name: Liam
- Hawaii’s 6 unique girl names: Halia, Anela Mahealani, Ilihia, Malie, Maile
- Hawaii’s 6 unique boy names: Kainalu, Kahiau, Kamahao, Keawe, Alika, Kaikoa
Idaho
- Idaho’s top girl name: Olivia
- Idaho’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Illinois
- Illinois’s top girl name: Olivia
- Illinois’s top boy name: Noah
- Illinois’s top 10 unique girl names: Zuzanna, Pola, Aniela, Eleen, Daliyah, Calia, Daniya, Destini, Eleonora, Esha (total of 18)
- Illinois’s top 10 unique boy names: Krystian, Teodor, Jovon, Petar, Syair, Vuk, Akshar, Jameer, Kiyaan, Lashawn (total of 24)
Indiana
- Indiana’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Indiana’s top boy name: Oliver
- Indiana’s 2 unique girl names: Aayla, Renlee
- Indiana’s 8 unique boy names: Maciah, Axtyn, Buckley, Emmerson, Javonni, Kashten, Lavon, Layken
Iowa
- Iowa’s top girl name: Olivia
- Iowa’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- Iowa’s 1 unique boy name: Kinnick
- Kinnick is the name of the University of Iowa’s football stadium.
Kansas
- Kansas’s top girl name: Olivia
- Kansas’s top boy name: Liam
- Kansas’s 2 unique girl names: Brecken, Atley
- No unique boy names.
Kentucky
- Kentucky’s top girl name: Amelia
- Kentucky’s top boy name: Liam
- Kentucky’s 2 unique girl names: Larkyn, Karson
- Kentucky’s 1 unique boy name: Brentlee
Louisiana
- Louisiana’s top girl name: Ava
- Louisiana’s top boy name: Liam
- Louisiana’s 8 unique girl names: Kaislee, Rylen, Harlym, Riyah, Cecile, Damiya, Jrue, Rhemi
- Louisiana’s 6 unique boy names: Baylen, Daxx, Jansen, Tylin, Hutson, Tyrin
Maine
- Maine’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Maine’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Maryland
- Maryland’s top girl name: Olivia
- Maryland’s top boy name: Liam
- Maryland’s 7 unique girl names: Dynver, Oakland, Brailyn, Chidera, Gelila, Kaylei, Shekinah
- Maryland’s 3 unique boy names: Yafet, Jordon, Karon
Massachusetts
- Massachusetts’s top girl name: Olivia
- Massachusetts’s top boy name: Noah
- Massachusetts’s 8 unique girl names: Aylla, Manuella, Eloah, Nelle, Clarisse, Emilly, Heloisa, Malu
- Massachusetts’s 8 unique boy names: Heitor, Tadhg, Joaopedro, Noriel, Walden, Dana, Enzogabriel, Jordany
Michigan
- Michigan’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Michigan’s top boy name: Oliver
- Michigan’s top 10 unique girl names: Zahraa, Cashmere, Ellouise, Manar, Breslyn, Cobi, Hala, Raneem, Arla, Avacyn (total of 22)
- Michigan’s top 10 unique boy names: Blair, Ayham, Coltyn, Nicklas, Daijon, Alastair, Deante, Haidar, Kodah, Mohsen (total of 13)
Minnesota
- Minnesota’s top girl name: Olivia
- Minnesota’s top boy name: Henry
- Minnesota’s top 10 unique girl names: Maida, Rayan, Nawal, Adna, Ahlam, Ikhlas, Ayan, Britta, Mumtaz, Munira (total of 28)
- Minnesota’s top 10 unique boy names: Muad, Muhsin, Yaqub, Sudais, Abdulahi, Mohamedamin, Masud, Liban, Mikko, Yonis (total of 23)
Mississippi
- Mississippi’s top girl name: Ava
- Mississippi’s top boy name: James
- Mississippi’s 3 unique girl names: Harlei, Mattilyn, Rivers
- Mississippi’s 6 unique boy names: Ashtin, Devonta, Aycen, Jakayden, Keondre, Landan
Missouri
- Missouri’s top girl name: Olivia
- Missouri’s top boy name: Oliver
- Missouri’s 8 unique girl names: Kelce, Esma, Kamori, Quinley, Blu, Jhream, Kendyl, Mavery
- Missouri’s 5 unique boy names: Travon, Bryton, Darrion, Sutter, Whitley
Montana
- Montana’s top girl name: Charlotte & Olivia (tie)
- Montana’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Nebraska
- Nebraska’s top girl name: Olivia
- Nebraska’s top boy name: Oliver
- Nebraska’s 1 unique girl name: Breckyn
- Nebraska’s 1 unique boy name: Eh
Nevada
- Nevada’s top girl name: Olivia
- Nevada’s top boy name: Liam
- Nevada’s 1 unique girl name: Unity
- No unique boy names.
New Hampshire
- New Hampshire’s top girl name: Charlotte
- New Hampshire’s top boy name: Lucas
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
New Jersey
- New Jersey’s top girl name: Olivia
- New Jersey’s top boy name: Liam
- New Jersey’s top 10 unique girl names: Bluma, Ruchama, Leba, Avigayil, Jadelyn, Alianny, Arna, Bina, Ita, Maahi (total of 13)
- New Jersey’s top 10 unique boy names: Boruch, Shraga, Gershon, Shaul, Avigdor, Naksh, Abeer, Nesanel, Refoel, Yerachmiel (total of 19)
New Mexico
- New Mexico’s top girl name: Olivia
- New Mexico’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
New York
- New York’s top girl name: Olivia
- New York’s top boy name: Liam
- New York’s top 10 unique girl names: Gitty, Yitty, Raizy, Sury, Esty, Goldy, Idy, Henny, Yides, Hinda (total of 174)
- Esty came up in the 2020 Pop Culture Baby Name Game because of the Netflix mini-series Unorthodox, which features an ultra-Orthodox Jewish main character named Esty from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC. Of the 67 baby girls named Esty last year, 59 were born in New York specifically.
- New York’s top 10 unique boy names: Lipa, Yechiel, Hershel, Pinchas, Avrum, Lazer, Md, Nachman, Berl, Muhammadyusuf (total of 157)
North Carolina
- North Carolina’s top girl name: Olivia
- North Carolina’s top boy name: Liam
- North Carolina’s 8 unique girl names: Wrenn, Katara, Beckley, Embree, Kaileigh, Promyse, Reigna, Twyla
- North Carolina’s top 10 unique boy names: Nolyn, Calihan, Aysen, Bladen, Damarcus, Dempsey, Hilton, Jahmere, Kaedyn, Kamdon (total of 16)
North Dakota
- North Dakota’s top girl name: Amelia & Olivia
- North Dakota’s top boy name: Oliver
- North Dakota’s 1 unique girl name: Girl (…still probably just a place-holder)
- No unique boy names.
Ohio
- Ohio’s top girl name: Olivia
- Ohio’s top boy name: Liam
- Ohio’s top 10 unique girl names: Damyla, Jozie, Delainey, Delila, Dorcas, Joselynn, Maisley, Maizey, Marcia, Bexleigh (total of 22)
- Ohio’s top 10 unique boy names: Willis, Larkin, Jashawn, Abdallah, Bennet, Bexley, Buck, Cylus, Freeman, Graeme (total of 26)
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma’s top girl name: Olivia
- Oklahoma’s top boy name: Liam
- Oklahoma’s 4 unique girl names: Brenlee, Jentri, Lun, Man
- Oklahoma’s 5 unique boy names: Pau, Creek, Mung, Cale, Dayson
Oregon
- Oregon’s top girl name: Olivia
- Oregon’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- Oregon’s 1 unique boy name: Rogue
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania’s top girl name: Emma
- Pennsylvania’s top boy name: Noah
- Pennsylvania’s top 10 unique girl names: Barbie, Suhaylah, Lavina, Verna, Surah, Erma, Adalind, Azara, Saloma, Aasiyah (total of 28)
- Pennsylvania’s top 10 unique boy names: Mahlon, Benuel, Ayyub, Aasim, Lavern, Baxter, Carmen, Muadh, Ahzir, Asir (total of 32)
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island’s top girl name: Olivia
- Rhode Island’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
South Carolina
- South Carolina’s top girl name: Ava
- South Carolina’s top boy name: William
- South Carolina’s 3 unique girl names: Kaniya, Ellory, Indya
- South Carolina’s 3 unique boy names: Drayton, Bowman, Collins
South Dakota
- South Dakota’s top girl name: Harper
- South Dakota’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Tennessee
- Tennessee’s top girl name: Olivia
- Tennessee’s top boy name: Liam
- Tennessee’s top 10 unique girl names: Anslee, Callaway, Henleigh, Mallie, Amellia, Blakley, Chloee, Crimson, Emersynn, Ivyanna (total of 14)
- Tennessee’s top 10 unique boy names: Neyland, Martavious, Holston, Ladarius, Mckinley, Ripken, Conley, Crockett, Kimoni, Ryman (total of 11)
- Neyland is the name of the University of Tennessee’s football stadium.
- Holston is the name of a river in Tennessee.
- Ryman is the name of the Nashville auditorium that was the home of the Grand Ole Opry (1943-’74).
Texas
- Texas’s top girl name: Olivia
- Texas’s top boy name: Liam
- Texas’s top 10 unique girl names: Elida, Kymber, Roberta, Xaria, Debanhi, Karyme, Abilene, Kirby, Analeigh, Bryar (total of 452)
- Abilene is the name of a city in Texas.
- Texas’s top 10 unique boy names: Crawford, Homero, Guadalupe, Eliazar, Abiel, Clemente, Javi, Koe, Javen, Kutter (total of 276)
Utah
- Utah’s top girl name: Olivia
- Utah’s top boy name: Oliver
- Utah’s 5 unique girl names: Alta, Scottlyn, Cozette, Auburn, Swayzie
- Utah’s 6 unique boy names: Kaladin, Taggart, Thayne, Trapper, Alma, Quaid
- Kaladin is the name of a character in the Stormlight Archive book series by Utah author Brandon Sanderson.
Vermont
- Vermont’s top girl name: Amelia
- Vermont’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Virginia
- Virginia’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Virginia’s top boy name: Liam
- Virginia’s 6 unique girl names: Soliana, Soliyana, Cornelia, Harlan, Makenzi, Yanet
- Virginia’s 6 unique boy names: Yuvin, Berkley, Keandre, Nayel, Nyzir, Sarim
Washington
- Washington’s top girl name: Olivia
- Washington’s top boy name: Oliver
- Washington’s 6 unique girl names: Ellinor, Jasper, Freja, Korah, Ravenna, Robbie
- Ravenna is the name of a neighborhood in Seattle.
- Washington’s 7 unique boy names: Finlay, Amnen, Finnan, Lochlann, Peregrine, Echo, Jettson
West Virginia
- West Virginia’s top girl name: Harper
- West Virginia’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Wisconsin’s top boy name: Oliver
- Wisconsin’s 1 unique girl name: Marietta
- Wisconsin’s 2 unique boy names: Chet, Everhett
Wyoming
- Wyoming’s top girl name: Olivia
- Wyoming’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Have any info/theories on any of the unique names above? If so, please leave a comment!
Source: Popular Names by State – SSA
Image (USATopographicalMap) by NOAA
Mount Ellinor is west of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula. The trail to the top is steep, but the views are amazing.
Such interesting data, thank you for sharing! Here are a few I was able to figure out quickly, but I’ve got a list of others I want to follow up on.
– Rogue is the name of a river in Oregon.
– Alta is the name of a ski resort in Utah.
– Alma is a male prophet in the Book of Mormon.
– Ariza is Mexican slang for Arizona.
– Payson is a town in Arizona.
– Kiari is the first name of Offset from Migos (Atlanta rap group).
– Jrue Holiday played for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2013-2020.
– Walden Pond is in Concord, Massachusetts.
– Eh is a Burmese name and people from Myanmar are the 4th largest immigrant group to Nebraska.
– Crimson in Tennessee stumps me. Is it possible there are a substantial number of Alabama Crimson Tide fans in Tennessee?
Loxley & Kirby are towns in Alabama and Texas, respectively.
Thank you very much for those explanations, ~T~, alex, and Ellyn!
Most of the unique names in Pennsylvania are Amish. Benuel seems to be solely Amish. Also Barbie, Verna, Erma, Lavina and Saloma for girls and Lavern and Mahlon for boys.
Thank you Andrea!
I really need to write a post about Amish names one of these days…