Top 100 Baby Names by State (2024)
To find how many living Americans carry any of these names today, visit HowManyOfMe.
Data source: US Social Security Administration 2024 state-level birth records.
Why Baby Names Differ So Much by State
In California, every single girl's name in the top 10 ends with an A reflecting the state's large Spanish-speaking population where names like Camila, Mia, and Sophia dominate. In Alabama, old-school classic names like William, John, and James hold strong for boys. In Hawaii, Kai and Kaia both ranked very high but are rare in other states.
The three main forces that shape state name trends:
Immigration and demographics States with large Latin American and Hispanic populations including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas consistently see cross-cultural names such as Mateo, Sebastian, and Santiago rank for boys and Camila, Isabella, and Mia for girls.
Regional culture States in the South and Midwest tend to favor classic Biblical and English names. The Northeast leans toward shorter, modern names. The Pacific Northwest shows stronger Scandinavian and nature-inspired name trends.
Local uniqueness The state with the most creative top 5 was West Virginia, followed by Kentucky, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming which had the highest proportions of top 5 names that ranked outside the US top 10.
2024 National Top 10 vs What States Show
Liam topped the national list and led in 23 states. Oliver ranked third nationally but topped 18 states a dozen more than second-place Noah, which led only 7 states despite ranking second nationally.
This gap between national rank and state-level dominance is one of the most interesting patterns in US name data. A name can rank second nationally while barely topping any individual state and a name ranked fourth nationally can sweep nearly half the country.
| National Rank | Male Name | States Where #1 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liam | 23 states |
| 2 | Noah | 7 states |
| 3 | Oliver | 18 states |
| 4 | James | Scattered |
| National Rank | Female Name | States Where #1 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olivia | 17 states |
| 2 | Emma | 1 state (Wyoming) |
| 3 | Charlotte | 19 states |
| 4 | Amelia | Scattered |
Source: US Social Security Administration 2024 state-level birth records.
States With the Most Distinctive Name Choices
Some states show the clearest departure from national trends:
California Spanish-influenced names dominate both lists. Mia, Camila, and Isabella for girls. Mateo, Sebastian, and Noah for boys.
Hawaii Kai and Kaia appear in top rankings. Pacific Islander and Hawaiian naming traditions create a unique list found nowhere else in the US.
Texas Strong Spanish influence with Sebastian, Mateo, and Santiago competing against Liam and Noah for the top spots.
New Hampshire and Vermont Theodore and other classical names hold strong positions that rarely appear in Southern or Western state lists.
West Virginia West Virginia showed the highest proportion of top 5 names that ranked outside the US top 10 its list is genuinely distinct from the national picture.