Which baby names were the most popular in each U.S. state in 2022?
And which names appeared in the data for just one state last year?
Here are all the answers! (Any unique name that also popped up in last year’s post is in boldface.)
Alabama (AL)
- Alabama’s top girl name: Olivia
- Alabama’s top boy name: William
- Alabama’s 5 unique girl names: Justyce, Adleigh, Crimson, Kamori, Khylee
- The University of Alabama’s football team is called the Crimson Tide.
- Alabama’s 5 unique boy names: Bankston, Chapman, Chipper, Treyvon, Wheeler
Alaska (AK)
- Alaska’s top girl name: Aurora/Charlotte (tie)
- Alaska’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- Alaska’s 1 unique boy name: Paxson
Arizona (AZ)
- Arizona’s top girl name: Olivia
- Arizona’s top boy name: Liam
- Arizona’s 5 unique girl names: Zo, Payson, Ariza, Naelani, Neema
- Arizona’s 1 unique boy name: Payson
- Payson (used for both genders above) could be a reference to the Arizona town of Payson.
Arkansas (AR)
- Arkansas’s top girl name: Olivia
- Arkansas’s top boy name: Oliver
- Arkansas’s 1 unique girl name: Camari
- No unique boy names.
California
- California’s top girl name: Olivia
- California’s top boy name: Liam
- California’s top 10 unique girl names: Mehar, Quetzalli, Emiko, Nare, Yamila, Mei, Mannat, Rayleen, Ajooni, Caia (total of 535)
- California’s top 10 unique boy names: Arjan, Narek, Lino, Maceo, Zenith, Tigran, Pranav, Sahib, Ashot, Sayed (total of 391)
Colorado
- Colorado’s top girl name: Olivia
- Colorado’s top boy name: Oliver
- Colorado’s 1 unique girl name: Ezmae
- Colorado’s 1 unique boy name: Cale
- Professional hockey player Cale Makar plays for the Colorado Avalanche (and won the Stanley Cup with them in mid-2022).
Connecticut
- Connecticut’s top girl name: Olivia
- Connecticut’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Delaware
- Delaware’s top girl name: Sophia
- Delaware’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
District of Columbia
- D.C.’s top girl name: Charlotte
- D.C.’s top boy name: Henry
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Florida
- Florida’s top girl name: Olivia
- Florida’s top boy name: Liam
- Florida’s top 10 unique girl names: Abigaelle, Ainoa, Keisha, Anaelle, Alysha, Jamia, Jehlani, Mariangel, Taraji, Aaleyah (total of 123)
- Florida’s top 10 unique boy names: Piero, Kenley, Kensley, Kion, Romel, Royale, Promise, Adams, Imani, Jahkai (total of 110)
Georgia
- Georgia’s top girl name: Olivia
- Georgia’s top boy name: Noah
- Georgia’s top 10 unique girl names: Yari, Choyce, Janova, Aloni, Kelli, Sarabi, Serayah, Zakiyah, Cai, Candelaria (total of 33)
- Georgia’s top 10 unique boy names: Deuce, Walton, Jamario, Lawton, Jeb, Kanon, Masyn, Peace, Pearce, Robel (total of 29)
Hawaii
- Hawaii’s top girl name: Olivia
- Hawaii’s top boy name: Noah
- Hawaii’s 5 unique girl names: Lilinoe, Mahealani, Kelia, Mehana, Mele
- Hawaii’s top 10 unique boy names: Ikaika, Ryzen, Kainalu, Kaeo, Kaikoa, Kawika, Makani, Hayzen, Kalai, Kiai (total of 11)
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: Kinzie, Zuzanna, Maleyah, Miliani, Novella, Ozzie, Colleen, Iga, Kamira, Kamoura (total of 15)
- Illinois’s top 10 unique boy names: Vuk, Aleksandar, Andrej, Michal, Nikodem, Teodor, Lazar, Namir, Nyaire, Abdurrahman (total of 22)
Indiana
- Indiana’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Indiana’s top boy name: Oliver
- Indiana’s 10 unique girl names: Israel, Brenlee, Talaya, Arionna, Dalayah, Islay, Jacklynn, Laiana, Saylah, Wrigley
- Indiana’s 6 unique boy names: Maciah, Brayton, Jentry, Jordon, Menno, Olyver
Iowa
- Iowa’s top girl name: Olivia
- Iowa’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Kansas
- Kansas’s top girl name: Olivia
- Kansas’s top boy name: Liam
- Kansas’s 1 unique girl name: Breckyn
- Kansas’s 1 unique boy name: Calan
Kentucky
- Kentucky’s top girl name: Harper
- Kentucky’s top boy name: Liam
- Kentucky’s 2 unique girl names: Rosetta, Tinslee
- Kentucky’s 2 unique boy names: Jansen, Taytum
Louisiana
- Louisiana’s top girl name: Olivia
- Louisiana’s top boy name: Liam
- Louisiana’s 9 unique girl names: Kamyri, Jaylei, Juri, Kemani, Ellarie, Jaisley, Kaleigha, Kenslei, Weslyn
- Louisiana’s top 10 unique boy names: Khyzer, Kennon, Aysen, Denym, Brylon, Caisen, Dedrick, Mahzi, Tory, Treylin (total of 11)
Maine (ME)
- Maine’s top girl name: Evelyn
- Maine’s top boy name: Oliver
- Maine’s 1 unique girl name: Acadia
- Acadia National Park is located in Maine.
- No unique boy names.
Maryland (MD)
- Maryland’s top girl name: Ava
- Maryland’s top boy name: Liam
- Maryland’s 6 unique girl names: Nature, Arsema, Loyal, Ayomide, Eniola, Hasset
- Maryland’s 4 unique boy names: Record, Tavon, Ezana, Kymere
Massachusetts (MA)
- Massachusetts’s top girl name: Olivia
- Massachusetts’s top boy name: Noah
- Massachusetts’s 8 unique girl names: Emilly, Marialuiza, Mariaclara, Aylla, Emanuelly, Hellena, Eloa, Isabelly
- Massachusetts’s 2 unique boy names: Eoghan, Murilo
Michigan (MI)
- Michigan’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Michigan’s top boy name: Noah
- Michigan’s top 10 unique girl names: Reema, Zahraa, Germany, Rital, Areej, Harlym, Kamylah, Layal, Zyaire, Elloise (total of 17)
- Michigan’s top 10 unique boy names: Floyd, Renley, Mohsen, Stuart, Wissam, Amaree, Delon, Husayn, Ishaaq, Joud (total of 12)
Minnesota (MN)
- Minnesota’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Minnesota’s top boy name: Oliver
- Minnesota’s top 10 unique girl names: Maryama, Siham, Ahlam, Manal, Mumtaz, Rayan, Ikhlas, Nawal, Afnan, Maiza (total of 34)
- Minnesota’s top 10 unique boy names: Yahye, Muhsin, Mohamedamin, Munasar, Nels, Sudais, Amaar, Brekken, Hanad, Majid (total of 29)
Mississippi (MS)
- Mississippi’s top girl name: Ava
- Mississippi’s top boy name: James
- Mississippi’s 5 unique girl names: Rivers, Kaisleigh, Rhyleigh, Kulture, Mills
- Mississippi’s 1 unique boy name: Khyler
Missouri (MO)
- Missouri’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Missouri’s top boy name: Oliver
- Missouri’s 5 unique girl names: Quinley, Rilee, Taylynn, Sekani, Teddy
- Missouri’s 6 unique boy names: Petie, Tennessee, Devontae, Kolsyn, Maclin, Weslee
Montana (MT)
- Montana’s top girl name: Olivia
- Montana’s top boy name: William
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Nebraska
- Nebraska’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Nebraska’s top boy name: Oliver
- Nebraska’s 1 unique girl name: Eh
- Nebraska’s 1 unique boy name: Creighton
- Creighton University is located in Omaha, Nebraska.
Nevada
- Nevada’s top girl name: Olivia
- Nevada’s top boy name: Liam
- Nevada’s 1 unique girl name: Hemen
- No unique boy names.
New Hampshire
- New Hampshire’s top girl name: Charlotte
- New Hampshire’s top boy name: Theodore
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
New Jersey
- New Jersey’s top girl name: Emma
- New Jersey’s top boy name: Liam
- New Jersey’s top 10 unique girl names: Tzivia, Shulamis, Ita, Debra, Fay, Sheva, Dena, Esti, Giorgia, Mattea (total of 11)
- New Jersey’s top 10 unique boy names: Gershon, Boruch, Michoel, Yechezkel, Pinchos, Avigdor, Ahsan, Betzalel, Ibn, Nesanel (total of 15)
New Mexico
- New Mexico’s top girl name: Sophia
- New Mexico’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- New Mexico’s 1 unique boy name: Cruzito
New York
- New York’s top girl name: Olivia
- New York’s top boy name: Liam
- New York’s top 10 unique girl names: Faigy, Gitty, Yitty, Raizy, Goldy, Shaindy, Blima, Henny, Pessy, Hinda (total of 197)
- New York’s top 10 unique boy names: Shaya, Mendy, Usher, Yitzchak, Avrum, Yossi, Hershel, Elimelech, Shloma, Yida (total of 179)
North Carolina
- North Carolina’s top girl name: Olivia
- North Carolina’s top boy name: Liam
- North Carolina’s top 10 unique girl names: Huntleigh, Makinley, Meylin, Talayah, Adair, Alaura, Avacyn, Bryelle, Emersen, Goddess (total of 18)
- North Carolina’s top 10 unique boy names: Darrius, Shelton, Sheppard, Ward, Waylan, Zeb, Chasen, Clarke, Kaysin, Kori (total of 22)
North Dakota
- North Dakota’s top girl name: Olivia
- North Dakota’s top boy name: Oliver
- North Dakota’s 1 unique girl name: Girl (a placeholder name)
- No unique boy names.
Ohio
- Ohio’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Ohio’s top boy name: Oliver
- Ohio’s top 10 unique girl names: Kierra, Lamiyah, Paizlee, Dempsey, Myonna, Annamae, Iyonna, Jaila, Jamyah, Khori (total of 29)
- Ohio’s top 10 unique boy names: Bennet, Cylas, Merlin, Abdallah, Wayde, Atlee, Bashir, Blessing, Bryden, Cylus (total of 19)
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma’s top girl name: Olivia
- Oklahoma’s top boy name: Liam
- Oklahoma’s 4 unique girl names: Lakota, Huxley, Lun, Raelee
- Oklahoma’s 2 unique boy names: Thang, Ripken
Oregon
- Oregon’s top girl name: Olivia
- Oregon’s top boy name: Oliver
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania’s top girl name: Olivia
- Pennsylvania’s top boy name: Liam
- Pennsylvania’s top 10 unique girl names: Barbie, Verna, Lavina, Alahna, Allure, Gionna, Laela, Lovina, Giavonna, Jennica (total of 25)
- Pennsylvania’s top 10 unique boy names: Benuel, Enos, Arlan, Penn, Munir, Welles, Kendry, Koleson, Tyreek, Ahsaan (total of 25)
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Rhode Island’s top boy name: Liam
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
South Carolina
- South Carolina’s top girl name: Charlotte
- South Carolina’s top boy name: Noah
- No unique girl names.
- South Carolina’s 4 unique boy names: Rashaun, Tillman, Keylan, Tyquan
South Dakota
- South Dakota’s top girl name: Evelyn
- South Dakota’s top boy name: Oliver
- South Dakota’s 1 unique girl name: Kimimila (from the Lakota word kimímila, meaning “butterfly”)
- No unique boy names.
Tennessee
- Tennessee’s top girl name: Olivia
- Tennessee’s top boy name: Liam
- Tennessee’s top 10 unique girl names: Neely, Annsley, Elleanor, Kimberlynn, Whitlee, Alasia, Brenley, Brylie, Copper, Enslee (total of 15)
- Tennessee’s top 10 unique boys names: Neyland, Holston, Opie, Hatcher, Kevon, Randal, Ryman, Aleczander, Dekari, Kaven (total of 14)
- The University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium was named after former athletic director/coach Robert Neyland.
- Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium was named after Nashville businessman Thomas Ryman.
Texas
- Texas’s top girl name: Olivia
- Texas’s top boy name: Liam
- Texas’s top 10 unique girl names: Landrie, Devany, Darianna, Atalie, Conley, Eliane, Leddy, Aitanna, Darely, Heiress (total of 501)
- Texas’s top 10 unique boy names: Riggin, Witten, Job, Weldon, Cutter, Judge, Stratton, Blayze, Cross, Ferran (total of 310)
Utah
- Utah’s top girl name: Olivia
- Utah’s top boy name: Oliver
- Utah’s 9 unique girl names: Alta, Liesl, Swayzee, Indica, Manaia, Nayvie, Quincey, Rorie, Savvy
- Utah’s 10 unique boy names: Stockton, Ammon, Dallin, Cache, Kimball, Tyce, Hudsen, Niels, Quin, Talmage
- Former professional basketball player John Stockton spent his entire NBA career with the Utah Jazz.
- Dallin H. Oaks is one of the leaders of the LDS Church.
- James E. Talmage was one of the leaders of the LDS Church in the early 1900s.
Vermont
- Vermont’s top girl name: Amelia
- Vermont’s top boy name: Henry
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Virginia
- Virginia’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Virginia’s top boy name: Liam
- Virginia’s 2 unique girl names: Cameran, Menna
- Virginia’s 5 unique boy names: Amnen, Arkan, Athens, Kani, Khylen
(Here are the top baby names in Virginia, and within each of Virginia’s largest ethnic groups, according to the state itself.)
Washington
- Washington’s top girl name: Olivia
- Washington’s top boy name: Oliver
- Washington’s 10 unique girl names: Mishika, Simona, Angelika, Hermela, Masina, Meklit, Shelly, Skadi, Soliana, Zakia
- Washington’s top 10 unique boy names: Ruvim, Leul, Nazar, Orrin, Eldon, Ilya, Odysseus, Roscoe, Ryett, Tavish (total of 11)
West Virginia
- West Virginia’s top girl name: Amelia
- West Virginia’s top boy name: Asher
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Wisconsin’s top boy name: Henry
- Wisconsin’s 3 unique girl names: Lorene, Luann, Maevis
- Wisconsin’s 3 unique boy names: Lavern, Wilbur, Willem
Wyoming
- Wyoming’s top girl name: Charlotte
- Wyoming’s top boy name: Noah
- No unique girl names.
- No unique boy names.
(Here are the top baby names in Wyoming according to the state itself.)
Many of the unique names above can be attributed to large religious/ethnic groups within certain states, such as the Amish in Pennsylvania/Ohio/Indiana, the Jews in New York/New Jersey, the Mormons in Utah/Idaho, and the Somali in Minnesota.
In fact, some of the names that appeared in the data for two states can be attributed to usage within these groups as well. Examples include…
- Hyrum, Utah & Idaho
- Mckay, Utah & Idaho
- Mordechai, New York & New Jersey
- Malka, New York & New Jersey
- Rhoda, Ohio & Pennsylvania
Do you have any thoughts about the single-state names above? Or about any of the other names in the 2022 state-by-state data? If so, please leave a comment!
(One thought I had: The most interesting top-5 this time around has to be West Virginia’s boys’ list: Asher, Grayson, Waylon, Oliver, and Liam. And sixth place is a tie between Maverick and Noah.)
Source: Popular Names by State – SSA
Image: Topographical Map of the USA by NOAA
New Jersey’s unique Jewish names are mostly Hebrew (all but Ita, in fact) while New York’s are mostly Yiddish (all but Shaya, Yitzchak, and Elimelech, with the rest being Yiddish or Yiddish pronunciations of Hebrew names). IMO this reflects a broader trend of increasing non-Hasidic migration to Lakewood, New Jersey. Non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews are usually not native Yiddish speakers, and when naming a baby after a grandparent or great-grandparent, may be more willing to modernize the name by translating it to Hebrew. The remaining Jewish community in New York is now predominantly Hasidic.
Ah, I was also wondering why New Jersey’s Jewish names are predominantly Hebrew while New York’s are mostly Yiddish. So interesting! Some notes below:
– AK: Paxson is a place in Alaska.
– CA: Nare, Narek, and Tigran are Armenian names.
– IL: A few Polish names here: Zuzanna, Iga, Michal, Nikodem, Teodor, Lazar. Vuk is Serbian. Aleksandar and Andrej are kind of pan-Slavic.
– IN: Menno is a Mennonite name. Wrigley probably refers to the Cubs stadium Wrigley Field. Funny that it turns up in the data for Indiana, but not Illinois!
– MD: Ezana was an ancient king of Axum, which is in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Hasset is also an Ethiopian name.
– MA: All of these names (minus Eoghan) are Brazilian in origin or usage.
– MI: Lots of Arabic names here: Reema, Zahraa, Rital, Areej, Layal, Mohsen, Wissam, Husayn, Ishaaq, Joud.
– MN: More Arabic names here as well. I imagine some of these are heavily used in the Somali community. Plus Nels, which is Norwegian. I wonder if the spelling of Brekken is influenced by the Bakken oil field in neighboring North Dakota or the Bakken Museum in Minnesota. Maybe it just feels Scandinavian?
– MS: Interesting to see that this is the only state where Kulture (daughter of Offset and Cardi B) makes it into the rankings.
– NE: Eh is a Karen (from Burma) name.
– NV: Hemen is a falcon god from Egyptian mythology.
– NJ: Along with all the Hebrew and Yiddish names, there are a few more secular names that I think are most common in the Orthodox Jewish community these days (Debra, Fay, Dena).
– NM: Cruzito is interesting to see here. Reminds me of the New Mexico city of Las Cruces.
– OK I think Thang and Lun are both Hmong names.
– PA: A few of these names are especially popular among Amish families (Barbie, Verna, Lavina, Lovina, Benuel, Enos). Penn refers to the state of Pennsylvania, the university, or the state’s founder, William Penn.
– TN: The Neely Auditorium at Vanderbilt is a central gathering-point.
– TX: Devany is another spelling of Debanhi, referring to Debanhi Escobar, the young woman who was murdered in Monterrey, MX (just south of Texas) last year. Leddy’s is a cowboy boot marker based in Fort Worth and San Antonio.
– UT: Alta is a ski resort in Utah. Manaia is a creature from Maori mythology and there are lots of Polynesian people in Utah. Ammon is a character in the Book of Mormon. Cache County is in the Wasatch range. The Kimball family is an old Mormon family that took part in the colonization of Utah.
– DC: Some Ethiopian names here, including Hermela, Meklit, Leul. A few Russian anmes as well: Angelika, Ruvim, Nazar, Ilya.
– WI: Very curious about these old fashioned names. Maybe used by Amish people?
@Rachel – Thank you for explaining that!
@alex – As usual, thank you for doing all this research, and for your insights. :)
Wisconsin now has a fairly large number of Amish as well. I would guess the male Lavern might well be an Amish boy and Luann and Lorene could be as well. They are names that seem to be more typical of Amish or Mennonite families, Wilbur could be Amish or Hispanic. Of course, they could be children in non-Amish families named after a grandparent. In Pennsylvania, I’d lay odds that Barbie, Verna, Lavina, and Lovina are all Amish girls and Benuel and possibly Enos are Amish boys, Lavina/Lovina is a very typical Amish name.
Thank you, Andrea!