Can you guess some of the most popular baby names of your state?

These Are the Most Popular Baby Names in Each State

Every generation has a handful of popular baby names. Think back, and you can probably recall that your classes at school had more than a few Michaels (a baby name that has been popular since the early 1950s), Marys, Jennifers and Ashleys (popular baby girl names tend to vary by the decade).
How do we know the most popular baby names of each year or generation? Well, the Social Security Administration actually keeps track of the names of newborns every year nationally and state-wide. And the top five most popular baby names in each state of 2023 (the most recent year that stats are available) may just come as a surprise. The list even features a few vintage baby names that have made comebacks in recent years.
So read on to find out what names you can expect to see more of in the years to come.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long.
Most popular baby girl names in every state
The following results are in order of the #1 most popular to the fifth most popular name of each state.
- Alabama: Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia, Ava, Elizabeth
- Alaska: Charlotte, Aurora, Amelia, Hazel, Emma
- Arizona: Olivia, Emma, Mia, Isabella, Sophia
- Arkansas: Olivia, Amelia, Charlotte, Emma, Evelyn
- California: Olivia, Mia, Camila, Emma, Isabella
- Colorado: Charlotte, Olivia, Sophia, Emma, Amelia
- Connecticut: Olivia, Charlotte, Mia, Emma, Amelia
- Delaware: Charlotte, Isabella, Emma, Olivia, Sophia
- Florida: Olivia, Emma, Isabella, Mia, Sophia
- Georgia: Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia, Emma, Ava
- Hawaii: Isla, Mia, Olivia, Luna, Ava
- Idaho: Olivia, Charlotte, Evelyn, Amelia, Emma
- Illinois: Olivia, Emma, Mia, Sophia, Charlotte
- Indiana: Charlotte, Amelia, Olivia, Eleanor, Evelyn
- Iowa: Charlotte, Olivia, Amelia, Harper, Evelyn
- Kansas: Amelia, Charlotte, Olivia, Evelyn, Emma
- Kentucky: Amelia, Charlotte, Emma, Olivia, Evelyn
- Louisiana: Amelia, Olivia, Charlotte, Ava, Harper
- Maine: Charlotte, Evelyn, Olivia, Eleanor, Harper
- Maryland: Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Sophia, Mia
- Massachusetts: Charlotte, Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Isabella
- Michigan: Charlotte, Amelia, Olivia, Sophia, Emma
- Minnesota: Charlotte, Olivia, Evelyn, Emma, Amelia
- Mississippi: Ava, Amelia, Olivia, Charlotte, Harper
- Missouri: Charlotte, Olivia, Amelia, Eleanor, Harper
- Montana: Charlotte, Emma, Hazel, Olivia, Amelia
- Nebraska: Charlotte, Olivia, Sophia, Amelia, Evelyn
- Nevada: Olivia, Isabella, Mia, Sophia, Charlotte
- New Hampshire: Charlotte, Olivia, Evelyn, Amelia, Emma
- New Jersey: Olivia, Emma, Mia, Sophia, Isabella
- New Mexico: Olivia, Amelia, Mia, Isabella, Emma
- New York: Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Mia, Amelia
- North Carolina: Olivia, Amelia, Charlotte, Emma, Sophia
- North Dakota: Evelyn, Charlotte, Amelia, Harper, Olivia
- Ohio: Charlotte, Amelia, Olivia, Sophia, Evelyn
- Oklahoma: Olivia, Amelia, Emma, Sophia, Charlotte
- Oregon: Olivia, Amelia, Evelyn, Charlotte, Emma
- Pennsylvania: Charlotte, Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Amelia
- Rhode Island: Charlotte, Sophia, Olivia, Amelia, Emma
- South Carolina: Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia, Emma, Ava
- South Dakota: Ava, Charlotte, Nora, Amelia, Evelyn
- Tennessee: Charlotte, Olivia, Amelia, Emma, Ava
- Texas: Emma, Olivia, Camila, Mia, Isabella
- Utah: Charlotte, Olivia, Emma, Evelyn, Lucy
- Vermont: Amelia, Eleanor, Charlotte, Evelyn, Sophia
- Virginia: Charlotte, Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Amelia
- Washington: Olivia, Amelia, Emma, Sophia, Evelyn
- West Virginia: Amelia, Charlotte, Harper, Olivia, Willow
- Wisconsin: Charlotte, Olivia, Evelyn, Amelia, Emma
- Wyoming: Evelyn, Amelia, Olivia, Harper, Charlotte
By far, the name Charlotte dominated the list—it took the top most popular baby girl name spot in 20 states! Clearly, names like Olivia, Amelia, Emma and Mia were also trending baby names parents of 2023 adored. However, we do see a few rare popular names on the list like Isla, Luna, Nora, Hazel and Aurora.
Most popular baby boy names in every state
- Alabama: William, John, James, Noah, Elijah
- Alaska: Liam, Oliver, Theodore, Noah, Elijah
- Arizona: Liam, Mateo, Noah, Oliver, Santiago
- Arkansas: Liam, Oliver, Noah, Hudson, William
- California: Noah, Liam, Mateo, Sebastian, Santiago
- Colorado: Liam, Oliver, Noah, Theodore, Henry
- Connecticut: Noah, Liam, Oliver, Lucas, James
- Delaware: Noah, Liam, Carter, Benjamin, Levi
- Florida: Liam, Noah, Lucas, Elijah, Oliver
- Georgia: Liam, Noah, William, James, Elijah
- Hawaii: Elijah, Liam, Noah, Ezekiel, Lucas
- Idaho: Oliver, Liam, Henry, Theodore, James
- Illinois: Noah, Liam, Oliver, Mateo, Theodore
- Indiana: Liam, Oliver, Noah, Theodore, Elijah
- Iowa: Oliver, Henry, Theodore, Liam, Noah
- Kansas: Liam, Oliver, Noah, Theodore, Henry
- Kentucky: Liam, Oliver, Noah, William, Elijah
- Louisiana: Liam, Noah, Elijah, James, Oliver
- Maine: Theodore, Oliver, Henry, Hudson, Owen
- Maryland: Liam, Noah, Lucas, James, Oliver
- Massachusetts: Noah, Liam, Theodore, Benjamin, Jack
- Michigan: Noah, Oliver, Henry, Theodore, Liam
- Minnesota: Theodore, Henry, Oliver, Liam, William
- Mississippi: John, James, William, Elijah, Noah
- Missouri:Oliver, Henry, Liam, Noah, Theodore
- Montana: Oliver, Theodore, James, Henry, Owen
- Nebraska: Oliver, Liam, Henry, Theodore, Noah
- Nevada: Liam, Noah, Mateo, Sebastian, Oliver
- New Hampshire: Oliver, Theodore, Jack, Henry, William
- New Jersey: Liam, Noah, Lucas, Joseph, Michael
- New Mexico: Liam, Mateo, Noah, Santiago, Ezekiel
- New York: Liam, Noah, Lucas, David, Joseph
- North Carolina: Liam, Noah, William, James, Oliver
- North Dakota: Oliver, Hudson, Henry, Theodore, Asher
- Ohio: Oliver, Theodore, Liam, Noah, Henry
- Oklahoma: Liam, Oliver, Noah, Elijah, James
- Oregon: Oliver, Liam, Henry, Theodore, Noah
- Pennsylvania: Noah, Liam, Oliver, Henry, Benjamin
- Rhode Island: Noah, Liam, James, Lucas, Michael
- South Carolina: Noah, William, Liam, James, John
- South Dakota: Oliver, Henry, Hudson, Theodore, Owen
- Tennessee: Liam, Oliver, James, William, Elijah
- Texas: Liam, Noah, Mateo, Santiago, Sebastian
- Utah: Liam, Oliver, Henry, William, James
- Vermont: Oliver, Henry, Theodore, Hudson, Levi
- Virginia: Liam, Noah, James, Oliver, William
- Washington: Oliver, Liam, Noah, Theodore, Henry
- West Virginia: Oliver, Waylon, Grayson, Maverick, Noah
- Wisconsin: Theodore, Oliver, Henry, Liam, Noah
- Wyoming: Henry, Jack, Carter, Elijah, Liam
Similar to Charlotte, the name Liam will be quite a common moniker in the years to come—it took the top naming spot in 21 states! Oliver, Noah and William also tended to be popular picks. And while we didn’t notice any baby names that have been banned around the world on the list, those names may be surprising, too.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources
- Social Security Administration: “Top 5 Baby Names by State for Births in 2023”