Baby name trends in the U.S. tend to manifest across the country as a whole, but there are also some interesting variances from state to state.
When the Social Security Administration releases its annual list of most popular baby names in the country, the agency also shares a breakdown of the top name in each of the 50 states.
The most recent data shows that the most popular name for girls in the U.S. in 2023 ― Olivia ― also dominated in 18 different states. However, the No. 2 name Emma was the top choice in only two states, Texas and New York.
Charlotte was the third most popular name nationally but the favorite in 20 states, plus Washington, D.C. The No. 4 name ― Amelia ― was the top pick in five states, and Ava (No. 8) and Evelyn (No. 9) each led in two states. The biggest outlier was Hawaii, where Isla was the most popular name despite being No. 33 in the U.S. as a whole.
As for boys, Liam was the top in the U.S. as a whole and in 21 individual states, plus Washington, D.C. Noah (No. 2) was the favorite in nine states, while Oliver (No. 3) claimed the lead in 13. Other top 10 names that led in specific states included Elijah, Theodore, Henry and William, but the most notable anomaly was John, which was No. 1 in Mississippi yet No. 26 in the country overall.
Take a look at the maps below to find out which names are the most popular picks for baby boys and girls in your state.
