New York City is home to over eight million individuals . Therefore, it is no surprise that a high percentage of babies are born in this city yearly, with approximately 125,000 live births. Every day, parents wonder, what should I name my baby? It can help to see the top baby names nationwide and in each city. Some parents love to find popular names because they want their babies to enjoy having a top name. Other parents like knowing the popular names to help them find a more unique name for their child. Regardless of your reasons, if you are looking for the top baby names in New York City, you have come to the right place!
The NYC Health Department releases the top names from the previous year every year. The names on this list have surged in popularity, and many have maintained their top spots for several years. Here’s looking at you, Liam! Now, let’s get right into it and take a glance at the top baby names in New York City this year.
Top Baby Girl Names In New York City
This year has seen a trend in baby girl names ending in a soft “ah” sound. Sweet and girly are the craze right now!
1. Emma
The name Emma is sweet and short, perfect for any little girl! It doesn’t need a nickname. However, some popular ones for Emma include Em and Emy.
Emma means “whole” and “universal” and is of German origin. This sweet girl’s name has existed for some time, dating back to the Norman Conquest in 1002. When Jane Austen’s book Emma came on the scene, this name also saw a surge! Since 2003, Emma has lingered on the top of the baby girl name list.
2. Olivia
The name Olivia in Latin means “olive branch” and is the feminine version of Oliver. The symbolism of the olive branch takes on the meaning of peace. Another theory of the origin of Olivia is that it comes from Old Norse and Old English as an ancestral name.
The popularity of the name Olivia can not be disputed. It has been on the top 100 list since 1990 and has held fast to its position as the name has climbed higher and higher!
3. Mia
The name Mia started as a nickname for Maria or Miryam. This name means “mine” or “beloved.” Mia has a couple of different theories of origin, including the Egyptian word mr, which means “love,” or from Spanish and Italian cultures because it means “mine.”
Mia has been on the top baby girl names list since 2009 when it entered the top ten.
4. Sophia
Sophia is of Greek origin and means “wise” or “wisdom.” A fun fact about the name Sophia is that as an original word (before it was even a name), it means “wisdom” in Greek.
St. Sophia was a saint in the Greek Orthodox Church, one reason the name grew in popularity. In 2020, Sophia took a spot on the baby girl’s top ten names and has hung out since!
5. Leah
Leah is a Hebrew name that means “delicate” and “weary.” In Biblical tradition, Leah was Jacob’s first wife, but she wasn’t wanted initially as his wife. In turn, she is thought of as someone who went through quite a b
6. Ava
Ava is a baby girl name with a few different origins:
- The Latin version of Ava means “bird.” In Hebrew, Ava means “breath” or “life.”
- In German, Ava has a few meanings, which are “water,” “island,” and “desire.”
- Ava means “voice” or “sound” in Persian.
With so many different meanings, it’s no wonder Ava is so popular!
7. Isabella
Isabella is a Latin name that came from the names Isabel and Elizabeth. The meaning of Isabella is “God is my oath.” Since this name is derived from Elizabeth, the root of the meaning “God is my oath” goes back to Elizabeth’s Biblical origins. She trusted God even though she remained barren until God gave her a child.
Isabella has been hanging out on the top baby girl names list since 1998 when it ranked in the top 100. Since then, it has climbed steadily until it made the top 10 in 2004.
8. Amelia
Amelia is Hebrew and has a few different meanings. The meanings are “industrious,” “to work,” and “striving.” Amelia has been a popular name in fictional writing since the 18th century when the book titled Amelia by Henry Fielding came out.
9. Luna
Luna is a sweet baby girl’s name that means “the moon.” The name itself was given to the moon goddess in Roman mythology.
There are also surnames “de Luna” and Deluna.”
10. Sofia
Sofia is a spelling variant of Sophia and also means wisdom. Like Sophia, Sofia is Greek. This variant has been quickly catching up to the more popular way of spelling Sophia.
