Top Names in Each State Revealed!

Top Names in Each State Revealed!

Popular names by state can look very different from the national count. Find out which states' top names conform to the US popular names list and which go in a different direction.

Olivia and Liam held on to their titles as the most popular names in the United States for another year at the national level, but Olivia is no longer the top name in the majority of states individually. Could its tenure as the top baby name be coming to an end?

Our maps depict the top names by state in 2024:

The Most Popular Girl Name in Each State, 2024

Despite falling from Number 3 to Number 4 in 2024, it was Charlotte that swept the country. Charlotte came out on top in 19 states, down from 21 in 2023.

Top girl name Olivia ranked Number 1 in 17 states, down from 18 in 2023. It's a popular choice on the West Coast and the Southwest.

Traveling Lite favorite Mia rejoined the map in 2024 after a brief hiatus. It's the top choice in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York — states with high proportions of Spanish speakers.

Lainey is brand-new to the map this year, ranking Number 1 in Montana. Popularized by country singer Lainey Wilson, it's a cowgirl-cool choice for babies in Big Sky Country.

Isla fell off the map in 2024, while Amelia gained control of more states than the year prior. Amelia comes out on top in Alaska, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Former Number 1 Emma is almost completely wiped off the map, but is holding strong in Wyoming. Evelyn ranks first in North Dakota, Ava is the top choice in Mississippi, and Valentina reigns another year in Puerto Rico.

The Most Popular Boy Name in Each State, 2024

Liam earned the top spot in one more state between 2023 and 2024, for a grand total of 23 states. This reflects Liam's national rise — it increased in use by over 1200 births throughout the US in 2024.

Oliver is the third-most-popular name in the US overall, but the top name in 18 states, up from 13 in 2023. Compare that to Noah, currently ranked at Number 2 across the entire US, but the top boy name in just seven states (although populous ones including Pennsylvania and Michigan). Could Oliver be poised to take second place nationally in 2025?

James rejoined the map this year in Washington, DC, while four names dropped off: Elijah, Henry, John, and Thiago. Theodore is barely hanging on, taking the top spot only in New Hampshire.

Top 5 Baby Names by State

The Top 5 baby names in each state are mostly permutations of names from the national Top 10, although some states saw more diversity. 26 girl names and 26 boy names held the distinction of ranking in a state Top 5:

Top 5 Girl Names

Top 5 Boy Names

States with large Latin American and Hispanic populations — including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas — were more likely to have cross-cultural names such as Camila, Mia, and Isabella rank for girls, and Mateo, Sebastian, and Santiago rank for boys.

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 of the US Top 10.

Nine girl names appeared in only a single state’s Top 5. They are listed below with their national ranking:

Amira (136), Puerto Rico

Elizabeth (17), Alabama

Ivy (36), Ohio

Kaia (180), Hawaii

Lily (24), Hawaii

Lucy (34), Vermont

Mary (132), Mississippi

Valentina (47), Puerto Rico

Zoe (29), Washington, DC

Seven boy names made singular appearances:

Brooks (67), North Dakota

Ethan (19), New York

Ezekiel (54), New Mexico

Ezra (13), Hawaii

Maverick (36), West Virginia

Michael (18), New Jersey

Thiago (55), Puerto Rico

Explore Popular Names by State

About the Author

Sophie Kihm

Sophie Kihm

Sophie Kihm has been writing for Nameberry since 2015. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Sophie is Nameberry’s resident Name Guru to the Stars, where she suggests names for celebrity babies. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest.

Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. You can follow her personally on Instagram or Pinterest, or contact her at sophie@nameberry.com. Sophie lives in Chicago.