These Are The Most Popular Baby Names By State

The most recent data on the popular names in each state has been released, and what surprised us the most was the repetition of names and sounds. It seems team O is taking the field by storm with Olivers and Olivias leading the pack for the babies born in 2018. After all, you could call a baby Ollie and incorporate both those top billed options. Speaking just for Oliver, the name has never seen such a spike in popularity. Could it be that John Oliver’s award winning political satire has inspired parents from coast to coast? We hope so. That guy’s hilarious, and Last Week Tonight is a hit.

The names that are the most popular seem to have one thing in common- they’ve got a vintage feel. The Avas, Williams, and Noahs work now and could have worked in both decades and even centuries past. Nothing on this list feels experimental. There are no Neveahs or Cashs. You won’t find a long name on here, either. It seems just yesterday Lilianas and Benjamins were all over the place. Parents were choosing the multi-syllables and then opting for cute nicknames. Trends change quickly, and the names of 2018 serve as a good reminder of this.

Alabama- Ava & William

Alabama’s Ava has been reigning in the number one spot for a couple years. It’s sweet and brings to mind one very famous Ava Gardner. That actress’ full name was Ava Lavinia Gardner which, even if you’re not a fan of the name, you have to admit has more than a touch of class. Also in Alabama, William has been in the top five male names is several decades including the 60’s, 70’s, 90’s, and early 00’s up until now. It seems he will not be shaken from top spot. Do you think the popularity of Prince William and his adorable children have anything to do with this?

Alaska- Aurora & Oliver

Aurora’s been around forever. She was the Roman goddess of dawn, hence the latinate word for it that we still use. She’s also been put on the map thanks to Disney’s sleeping princess. Alaska gives us our first Oliver of the many on this list. They’re not alone as a state nor as a popular name for a country. After all, England, Australia, and New Zealand all boast a bushel of Olivers. Oliver’s been used in the media forever. Think of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, the orphan who runs of his life of undertaking to petty crime on the London streets. Memorable, no?

Arizona- Emma & Liam

We can’t help it. When we think of ‘Emma’ we still think of Ross and Rachel’s little girl from Friends. Today, Emma would be in high school, and Jennifer Ansiton recently said she has no doubt that Ross and Rachel would still be together raising her. It could be that the Friends usage of the name has contributed to it’s popularity. People who grew up with the show could now be naming their daughters. As for Liam, it’s an Irish original short form for William. A user on Behind the name left this comment about the shorter name, “I think it would be kinder to name your child William, then if they outgrow the nickname “Liam” they have a ton of options for other diminutives to use.”

Arkansas- Ava & Noah

According to a very well versed user on ilxor, Ava is a sign of the times. Why?”More than this, though, it’s got the right combination of phonemes for this decade. I can’t emphasize this enough. There are plenty of grandma or great-grandma names that never experience a resurgence, names like Gertrude (#22 in 1906) and Mildred (#6 for most of Woodrow Wilson’s presidency), and that’s largely because the terminal D sound fell out of favor quite a long time ago — especially for girls — and that’s a lot more difficult to come back from. Parents want names that are unique, yes, but they don’t want them to sound weird or ugly. Ava, lo and behold, fits right into a phonemic pattern that’s especially popular right now: girls’ names that begin with a vowel and end with an A. For instance, also in the top 30 in 2008: Emma (#1), Isabella (#2), Olivia (#6), Alyssa (#16), Ella (#19), Anna (#26). (For comparison, in 1988, the only name like this in the top 30 was Amanda.)” Noah also has a trendy ending with the ‘ah.’

California- Emma & Noah

Here is Noah once again. Other names that follow this ‘ah’ trend for boys are- Isaiah, Elijah, and Utah. None of which made this list, however. Hey, the biblical Noah lived to be nearly 1,000 years old. Maybe that’s why people are drawn to the name. Who wouldn’t want longevity for their son? California follows Arizona on the Emma train. There are still many to follow. We hope it’s because Emma Watson’s Hermione and trailblazing feminism has made such an indelible mark.

Colorado- Olivia & Liam

Liam makes another appearance in the state known for it’s skiing and indie film festivals. Do you think its popularity could have anything to do with the Hemsworth brother by the same name? After all, Liam Hemsworth is not only Miley Cyrus’ husband. He’s also starred in the Hunger Games film adaptions, the Independence Day remake, and 2013’s Arabian Nights. And honestly, who doesn’t love themselves a Hemsworth? This is the same family that brought us Marvel’s Thor. If naming a kid Liam bestows godlike genes upon him, it’s worth having seven kids in the same class with that name. Colorado gives us our first of many Olivias. More on her later.

Connecticut- Olivia & Noah

Like now! Olivia appears again as Connecticut’s top girl name. It’s popularity is nation wide, and it sits comfortably at the number two position for all girl names in the USA. Additionally, the name is used in abundance in Canada and most of the West. Nameberry gives related but less frequently used options Olive, Livia, and Livvy. We think the name Olive reminds us of Olive Oil of Popeye fame. There’s nothing wrong with a good throwback to a time when cartoons were pools of comedic violence. Noah, oppositely, means “rest, repose” in ancient Hebrew. There’s nothing violent there (maybe with the exception of the whole drowning life across the planet in a fit of rage story).

Delaware- Ava & Liam

What’s interesting about the name Ava is that it has about a bajillion origin stories. It’s pretty much the Joker of names. Some believe it is Germanic. Others think it has a latinate origin. Still others believe Ava is an adaption of the biblical Eve’s earliest pronunciation. Oh baby! Names says that Ava, “saw a little bump up the charts from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s thanks to the popularity of American actress Ava Gardner, but the appeal was brief. By the end of the 1950s, Ava was dropping like rocks, and for about 20 years (1970-1990), the name could barely hold a place on the charts.” The name Liam has also appeared as a surname in the Americas, mostly in Missouri and Kentucky.

District of Columbia- Ava & William

Sure, Prince Wills comes to mind when you think of famous Williams. However, there are certainly more. William himself was probably named after the man dubbed ‘The Conqueror’ as well as William of Gloucester. His full name is William Arthur Philip Louis. The Prince’s name follows tradition, since most royals have a name that’s the length of a human forearm. Other Williams of note are William Shakespeare, William Jefferson Clinton known to us as ‘Bill’ and ‘Mr. President,’ William James Murray who is also ‘Bill.’ Ava has been used by the show Once Upon A Time, as an updated Gretel from the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale.

Florida- Isabella & Liam

Thanks, Florida, for offering up a new name for the list. Isabella is an offshoot of the classic Elizabeth but one that feels younger and less stuffy. We’re not entirely sure why that is since Isabella has also been a royal name. After all, Queen Isabella of Castile was the patron of one Christopher Columbus. Her own mother, also a queen, was another Isabella. Isabella of France became Queen of England (ironic, huh?) and has the best moniker ever. She was called the She-Wolf of France. Liam makes another appearance as Florida’s most popular boys name. There’s an Irish pub in Orlando with the name, too. Specifically, it’s called Liam Fitzpatrick’s.

Georgia- Ava & William

Georgia’s most popular male and female baby names follow the Ava, William set. For a look at the recent history of names from the state, AJC says, “From 2010-2014, boys’ names such as Jacob, Noah and Mason rounded out the top spots, alongside William, according to the SSA; while girls’ names such as Ava, Isabella and Madison rounded out the top spots alongside Olivia and Emma (the No. 1s).” In 1980, not a single one of those names made the list. Instead, the reigning girls were Amanda, Jennifer, Jessica, Kimberly, and Melissa. The boys of 1980 were James, Micheal, Christopher, Jason, and John.

Hawaii- Emma & Liam

Welcome back, Emma and Liam! We had hoped that Hawaii would give us some variety. It’s the state with one of the most unique racial makeups of the fifty.

According to to-Hawaii, “Hawaii is one of the most racially diverse places in the world as there is no majority – everyone is in a minority. In the 2010 Census, 23.6% of Hawaii residents claimed multi-ethnic backgrounds (two or more races), far more than any other state in the USA (the second highest is Alaska with 7.3%). You will find a “mixed plate” of ethnic groups in Hawaii; 38.6% of Hawaii’s population is Asian, 24.7% is White, 10% is Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders, 8.9% is Hispanic, 1.6% is Black or African American, 0.3% is American Indian and Alaska Native, and 23.6% of all Hawaii residents are of multi-ethnic background (two or more races).” Therefore, we’d hoped to see a Lani or a Riku take the top spot here. No luck.

Idaho- Olivia & Liam

Andy Benoit is from Idaho, as was Lillian Disney, wife of the famous Walt. Both Olivia and Liam now have an even higher chance of joining them on the list of famous Bengals. This is because both those names are dominating the power rankings currently. Another famous person from Idaho? Sarah Palin. She and her siblings were born in the state famous for its potatoes. It was only after her father got a teaching job in Alaska that the family moved to the place where she would eventually become mayor, then governor. She even returned there to attend college. Know who could still make that story more interesting? Tiny Fey pretending to do it while acting as Sarah Palin. So much better than the real deal.

Illinois- Olivia & Noah

Illinois is more than just Chicago. It, like so many other states on this list, has an abundance of little babies called Olivia and Noah. We wonder if any of these parents even heard of the Georgian woman, Olivia Serres. She was quite the rule breaker of her era and even pretended to be a princess when she fell on hard times and needed money. Pretended might be a misleading word here. She hustled the royal family. She claimed to the be the daughter of a secret marriage, one that took place before the royally ordained one. Therefore, she claimed, the royal marriage was adulterous and all the income of that branch of the household should go to her. How’d the royal family answer these fantastic claims, you ask? Olivia Serres was thrown once again in debtors prison.

Indiana- Emma & Oliver

In another Midwest ‘fly over state’ (seriously, who came up with that term? Seems offensive to anyone that, you know, exists in one), Emma and Oliver are head of the pack. Oliver…Jaime Oliver…chef extraordinaire who names his kids some seriously weird shit. There are no Emmas, Noahs, or Toms in his pack of children. It’s almost like, because the family surname is linked to the popularity charts, Noah and his wife had to make their kids’ first names as ridiculously memorable as possible. His kids are named Poppy Honey, River Rocket, Buddy Bear, Petal Blossom, and Daisy Boo. Even Jaime’s wife boasts an unusual first name. She’s Jools, Jools Oliver.

Iowa- Harper & Oliver

Here’s a name that we haven’t had yet on the list- Harper. To us, it brings to mind Alex Russo’s artsy, goofy best friend of Disney fame. Remember when Selena Gomez was just another Disney star in the pipeline? Now that she’s an award winning singer, top billed actress, and advocate for mental health awareness, it’s hard to believe she was ever a DCO up and comer. The actress that played Harper herself, Jennifer Stone, is also still working in the business. She’s appeared on Pair of Kings, Secondhand Lions, and will be in 2019’s Santa Girl. The name’s meaning is pretty straight forward. It boils down to ‘harp player.’ No imagination needed there.

Kansas- Olivia & Liam

Welcome back, Olivia and Liam. We’ve already talked about Liam Hemsworth, so now we’ll mention the other famous Liam that’s a household name. He’s Liam Neeson, lifetime action film star. He’s the man who uttered the words that have stuck in pop culture’s usually quick to forget memory, “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

Kentucky- Emma & William

In Kentucky, both Emma and William are holding strong. Emma, which means ‘whole,’ could be experiencing such popularity due to a handful of very successful Hollywood ladies who use the moniker. There’s Emma Stone, whose movies are both plentiful and box office gold. However, she’s not a genuine Emma. Her real name is Emily, but she couldn’t use it because another actress registered with the Screen Actor’s Guild had it claimed. We’ve already mentioned Emma Watson. Then, there’s Emma Roberts, who’s Julia Roberts’ talented niece. Emma Thompson, prolific actress and film staple, rounds out the bunch. All in all, none of these ladies are a reason not to name a little girl Emma.

Louisiana- Ava & Noah

Here’s another one we thought would offer a spice of variety to this list of Olivers, Olivias, and Liams. Like with Hawaii, it was not to be. Louisiana, the state famous for Cajun seasoning and French influence, gives us another Ava and Noah. Even a Marie and Maria would have been nice (after all, who doesn’t think of Marie Laveau when they think of Louisiana?). That’s a pretty lasting legacy since the woman lived and practiced her voodoo 200 years ago.

According to Bewitching Names, both Marie and Laveau could be options when naming a baby. They say, “So does Laveau have the potential to be a first name? I’ve been having a hard time finding name statistics for specific cities (with the exception of New York City), so I have no way of knowing if it’s actually used in New Orleans. But, outside of the black community, I don’t really see it catching on. The emphasis on the “oo” sound at the end doesn’t scream “white person living in the suburbs” to me. If the parents are really into macabre creole history, then this would be a great fit for them. If it’s too out there and you still want to honor both Laveau’s, you could always use Marie. Then no one would know the witchy meaning but you.”

Maine- Charlotte & Oliver

Ah, Charlotte. She’s the name now of both a princess as well as a very talented spider. Most don’t know that Charlotte is the female variant of Charles, which makes a lot of sense when you think of the royal family. However, behind closed doors Charlotte doesn’t always go by her full name. Her mother, the Duchess Catherine, has admitted to calling her second born Lottie. It’s stinking adorable. Her father has an equally sweet nickname for the little princess. He’s referred to her as Mignonette, a French term. Nearly all the members of the royal family speak French like senior members Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Maryland- Ava & Liam

When we think of Maryland, maybe someday we’ll think of an Ava or Liam. After all, what comes to mind when you picture the state? If you’re having trouble thinking of anything not directly related to the Revolutionary War, here’re some interesting tidbits. Maryland was home to the first dental school in the USA. Babe Ruth was from the state, which we think means every third baby born there should be called Ruth. After all, this guy started his pro career as a leftie pitcher, broke batting records like they were spun sugar, and was sent to a school for orphans by his parents because he was so naughty they couldn’t handle him. He’s pretty much the epitome of interesting.

Massachusetts- Emma & Benjamin

Here’s a new one for this list- Benjamin. Two people come to mind when we think of Benjamins. There’s Franklin, the American who invented bifocal glasses and immortalized his love for older women in print. Then there’s the other child of Friends’ Ross. We’ve already talked about his and Rachel’s baby girl, Emma. Ben would be 24 this year (his birthday was in May). He was seven years older than his half sister and born to Ross’ ex wife after she’d decided to pursue her lesbian relationship with Susan. The little boy was played by Cole Sprouse, who went on to star with his twin brother in The Suite Life of Zach and Cody and Big Daddy. He’s currently starring on Riverdale.

Michigan- Olivia & Noah

There are other Noahs than the biblical one. In fact, Noah is no longer a males-only moniker. Noah Cyrus is proof of this. She’s Miley’s younger sister and has other siblings named Christpher, Brandi, Trace, and Braison. Noah has had several bit parts with Disney, thanks probably to her sister’s notoriety with the company. However, in 2017 Noah signed her own record deal and the same year she opened for Katy Perry on tour. Noah’s platform has been her work with PETA, and she’s come out with a strong statement against SeaWorld’s use of orcas. For more on this, and for truly disturbing but somehow riveting filmography, see Blackfish.

Minnesota- Evelyn & Henry

Look at Minnesota bucking the trends! Here’s a woot for the state housing the Mall of America! Their most commonly used girl’s name is Evelyn. The name was anglicized from the older ‘Aveline,’ which we think is pretty, too. Though she’s not at of the same caliber of popularity as Ava, Evelyn is the #10 most popular girls name in the United States. Since Evelyn means “wished for,” there’s a good reason why. Both the lyrical sound of the name and the beautiful meaning probably factor into it’s popularity. We’re honestly surprised Henry isn’t in more places on this list. Just think of the famous ones that come to mind without much searching. There’s Henry Kissinger, Henry Ford, swoon-worthy Henry Cavill, and Henry Winkler.

Mississippi- Ava & John

We’ve covered Ava, but John’s a first for this list. Nameberry says about this steady sounding name, “John reigned as the most popular of all boys’ Christian names for 400 years, from the time the first Crusaders carried it back to Britain until the 1950s, at which point American baby namers finally seemed to be tiring of this most straight-arrow, almost anonymous John Doe of names and started to replace it with fancier forms like Jonathan and the imported Sean and Ian. John was a key name in early Christianity, borne by John the Baptist, John the Apostle and John the Evangelist, plus 84 saints and 23 popes, as well as kings and countless other illustrious notables.”

Missouri- Olivia & Liam

Missouri takes us back to the routine Olivia and Liam. However, there’s really nothing routine about this state that boasts a ton of oddities. Missouri’s name itself has an interesting origin. It was named after the tribe of Sioux who called themselves the Missouri. It means “large canoes.” Though it ends in ‘si’ meaning Missouri natives pronounce it’s name Miz-urr-ah. Henry Truman was from Missouri, and after he was president both he and his wife moved back to the state to reside in his mother-in-law’s home. Finally, it was this state that had the most destructive tornado in written history. Take that, Dorothy!

Montana- Harper & Liam

Here’s another Harper, the second one after Iowa’s. While it’s not numerous on this list, Harper is a pretty common name for celeb kids. Neil Patrick Harris has a daughter named Harper. Paul Simon has a little boy called the same. Bill Hader has a little girl who he named Harper, too. Lisa Marie Preseley named her daughter Harper. We dig it. It’s not Apple, Jermajesty, or Honey Poppy, so it’s acceptable. Compared to those though, darn near anything would be. The most famous bearer of the name in the literary world is Harper Lee, the name of the person who penned To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper was in fact the author’s middle name. Her given name is Nelle.

Nebraska- Olivia & Liam

For Nebraska, the top five baby girl names go: Olivia, Emma, Evelyn, Charlotte, Harper. None of those names made the list in the 1950’s. Then, the top five girls names were Mary, Linda, Patricia, Susan, and Deborah. Its funny because now those women are our grandmothers, and we think of those names as being ‘old’ without being vintage and trendy. Can you imagine if the children growing up today see those names the same way we’ve brought back Ava and Olivia? Our own grandchildren may be little Lindas and Debbys. It seems an out there prediction, but by all means the name game is cyclical.

Nevada- Emma & Liam

I don’t know why, but the name Emma seems young. It seems younger even that older sister Emily or grandmother Emmeline. However, it’s not at all a new name. In fact, Emma of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym was a German princess in the early 1800s. She’s notable because she ruled alone for some time, stepping in until her son was old enough to take up the royal duties. During her reign a parliament was convened and the entire country took a huge step toward modernism.

New Hampshire- Olivia & Oliver

Not just a given or surname, s.Oliver is also a German fashion label. It has clothes for men, women, and children. We thought the stuff looks a bit like Old Navy’s threads. Funnily enough, the brand got it’s name from Oliver Twist. The company’s founder, Bernd Freier, currently serves as CEO. He’s also a billionaire thanks to his line of clothing and accessories. He initially began selling clothes in a tiny one-off boutique. Now, the store has expanded into a 700 shop chain and is available in 20 countries. If you’re naming your son Oliver in hopes of success, there’s definitely worse ways to go.

New Jersey- Emma & Liam

While the given name Liam is very Irish, it’s prevalence as a surname is far from the Western world. In fact, the most people with Liam as a last name are in Nigeria. Nigeria itself is an up and coming country. It’s finding its way in the luxury goods trade. According to Tatler, “Nigeria’s the second fastest-growing champagne market after France. Total consumption reached 752,879 bottles in 2011 and the country is spending around 41.41bn naira (£159m) on the drink annually. Moët Rose is a favourite – Nigerians have a sweet tooth – though the country’s in the top 10 for Hennessy cognac and is getting more and more partial to wine.”

New Mexico- Isabella & Noah

Isabella sounds like a girl who should globe trot and speak several languages fluently, no? This is certainly the case with Isabella Rossellini, Italian actress and American producer. She’s also Swedish Ingrid Bergman’s daughter, making her Hollywood ascension almost guaranteed. She was the star of Death Becomes Her and, to this day, maintains both American and Italian citizenship. IMDb says that Isabella is, “Virtually identical to her mother, Ingrid Bergman, but surprisingly had few opportunities to portray her mother in a biographical film. One occasion was an eerily accurate spoof of Ilsa Lund in an episode of Tales from the Crypt (1989). More recently, in the movie My Dad Is 100 Years Old (2005) for which she wrote the script, she did a moving portrayal of her mother.”

New York- Emma & Liam

For New York, Liam has reigned as the most popular boys name. However, 2017’s Olivia was knocked back for Emma. There’s a famous socialite in New York who’s been on the scene since before her name became trendy. She’s Emma Snowdon-Jones. From all accounts, it seems like Emma is a living Charlotte from Sex and the City.

The Garnette Report says that, “Emma lives the glamorous life of many a childhood dream ”” swathed in chic designer dresses, she sits front row at the runway shows of those who designed them.  She shared her secret: ”You want to stay in good standing with the designers; they’ll loan you the clothes!”  I previously dubbed her a New York Fashion Week veteran, and the label holds; she has been attending New York Fashion Week for the past 7-8 years and attends anywhere from 40 to 50 shows per season.  ”You do the math!” she laughed.”

North Carolina- Ava & Noah

In North Carolina, Ava and Noah top the popularity lists. Ava is also the name given to a Bronze Age woman found buried in a rare rock vault in the Scottish highlands. At first, the facial reconstruction her finders released had her bearing the signature flaming locks and blue eyes we associate with Scottish ancestry. However, in December of 2018, Ava’s look was updated based on findings in her DNA. Ava, named after the Achavanich area she was discovered in, had dark hair. Her eyes were brown. In fact, despite where she was found, Ava wasn’t Scottish at all. Her family had immigrated to the area, bringing unknown metalworking knowledge to the local people.

Ava, therefore, is an adventurer. That’s a great thing for a baby girl to aspire to.

North Dakota- Olivia & Oliver

Tristan Thompson of some basketball fame but mostly Kardashian infamy, jumped on the Oliver train, too. His eldest child, the one his ex was pregnant with when he first hooked up with Khloe, is named Prince Oliver. The little boy celebrated his second birthday last December. Unfortunately, Tristan didn’t attend the baby’s big day. It was during the basketball season, and the man doesn’t have the best reputation for involvement with his children. After all, it was rumored the only reason he made it to True’s first birthday was because his own mama made him go. She, sources said, has more contact with his children than he does. At least those cuties have some connection to their paternal family!

Ohio- Ava & Liam

Ohio. LeBron James. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ava and Liam. Unfortunately, Ohio is notorious for one other thing- some of the highest infant mortality rates in the States. The question many experts are trying to answer is why. It’s been found that black women in the state suffer worst of all. They experience preterm birth more than others, and in Ohio it’s as high as 17% of African American women who give birth before 37 weeks gestation. Two more factors that contribute to this huge problem is the higher than average rate of maternal smoking and diabetes.

Oklahoma- Emma & Liam

Have you ever heard of One Direction? They were this cool little niche band. False! One Direction and all the boys therein achieved major fame, including band member Liam Payne. Do you think the band’s roaring popularity has anything to do with the resurgence of the name Liam? It’s not impossible. Liam was the baby faced blonde one, and the one who admitted he has a super strange phobia. Liam is afraid of, wait for it, spoons. Moreover, he’s afraid of dirty spoons and takes his own silverware to restaurants.

Oregon- Emma & Oliver

We’ve talked about Emma and Oliver, the two names topping the Oregon lists. However, Oregon has it’s own history with its name. The fact is, no one really knows where the word Oregon comes from. Some have speculated that it’s actually a botched form of the word ouragan, which is French. It means stormy, and the theory is that the Columbia River was once colloquially called the “River of Storms.” Netstate postulates that, “the name of this state comes from the Spanish word “oregano” for the wild sage which grows so vigorously in eastern Oregon.”

Pennsylvania- Emma & Liam

On the Baby Center boards one TigEr1212 asked her fellows, “My family loves the name Liam, and I like it too, but I’m a serial nick-namer…(Danny, Mikey, etc) Anybody know a Liam that’s called anything besides Liam? Lee maybe?” She got some interesting responses. One was, “My friend has a Liam who calls himself Lima (he’s 2). It’s funny and has stuck as a NN. Sometimes they aren’t planned and derived from the name, they just happen.” Our favorite? “I have a Liam, his mn I Theodore, we call him LT on occasion. Maybe initials could work for you too.”

Rhode Island- Amelia & Liam

There’s one lady you think of when Amelia comes up. It’s Amelia Earhart, the most famous female pilot from the States! She took her first flying lesson in 1921, only because flying was such a new venture there weren’t yet taboos about women studying it. Amelia was hooked right away and bought her first plane that same year. She aslo supported another woman accomplishing firsts. According to World History Project she hired, “Neta Snook, the first woman instructor to graduate from the Curtiss School of Aviation,” to teach her the finer details of the craft. Amelia may have mysteriously disappeared, but she’s an icon for women’s achievements.

South Carolina- Ava & William

Sure, there are a ton of men named William who you could name your son after. William Wallace. Billy the Kid. Willie Mays. There’s a woman who stands out that’d be a great homage, too. It’s Serena Williams! Think about it. She’s has more grand slam wins than anyone else, man or woman. In addition, she’s had to fight her own sister to get there at times, and yet they still support each other in their bid for dominance. She’s been a pretty impressive mother to her daughter and shared that sweet faced tot with us on Instagram. The lady turned pro when she was 14 years old. Talk about a name with a ton of accomplishments!

South Dakota- Harper & Grayson

Hold on, we’re about to let our nerd flags fly. It’s because Grayson makes us think of Dick Grayson, the very first Robin. That’s right we’re talking Batman’s Boy Wonder here. You know him. He’s the orphaned acrobat who Bruce Wayne took under his wing (haha, bat wings). Anyway, Grayson is no longer Batman’s trusty sidekick. Instead, he’s become his own man. He goes by Nightwing now and patrols Bludhaven. For a short while, he took up the bat cowl while Bruce was rehabbing his broken back. He’s our favorite Robin, even more so than Bruce’s own son, Damion.

Tennessee- Emma & William

In the UK, Emma isn’t just a name. It’s also a Mint style money management system that uses AI to track banking and spending information to give a user an accurate look at their expenses. In June of 2019 the app launched in the US and Canada. Not only does the app track your money, it sorts expenses into easy to read categories that you can edit. This lets a user see if they’re spending too much on subscriptions, entertainment, or eating out. The app can span across all user’s bbank accounts, too.

Texas- Emma & Liam

There’s a Mr. Liam Hemsworth. Now, there’s a Mrs. Liam Hemsworth as well. Teen Vogue broke the story saying, “And, according to Liam, Miley has marked this new chapter of her life by taking her husband’s last name. While appearing on E!’s Live With Kelly and Ryan, the actor revealed that his wife is officially now known as Miley Ray Hemsworth, noting that the name change was entirely her idea. ”She will still be obviously known as Miley Cyrus, but she took my name, which is great,” Liam continued. ”That was honestly one of the best things about it. I didn’t ask her to take my name, but she was like, ‘No, of course I’m taking your name.’”

Utah- Olivia & Oliver

The Olivias abd Olivers have taken over Utah as well. Utah, like Oregon, has an interesting name itself. This time though we know where the name came from. It was named after its Native American dwellers, called the Utes. The word roughly translates to ‘of the mountains,’ so the Utes were the people of the mountains. Baby Name Wizard says that Utah is used most often as a boys given name.

Vermont- Harper & Oliver

Have you heard of the multi-talented Tanisha Harper? She was born in Tokyo but is of Cherokee and African American heritage. She’s also a stone cold knockout. She was discovered at a mall in Phoenix as a teen and been on the rise ever since. She’s modeled, acted, and hosted for television. Her middle name is Mariko, which feels refreshing after all these Olivias, Emmas, and even her trendy last name, Harper.

Virginia- Ava & William

Virginia is a state with Ava and William in the top spots. Those two names are very close to the names given to the children dubbed ‘the most beautiful twins in the world.’ They are Ava and Leah Clements. Their looks are striking, with both the girls boasting clear green eyes and olive skin. More striking is their nearly one million Insta followers. The girls’ social media is run by their mother, Jaqi. Our question is simply…why? That seems like a pretty big load to bear for right year olds.

Washington- Olivia & Liam

Olivia Holt is one of the new generation of it girls popularizing the name. She’s a Disney Channel alum who appeared in Kickin’ It, Girl vs. Monster, and I Didn’t Do It. Right now she’s starring in Freeform’s Cloak and Dagger, an extension of the Marvel universe. The girl who hunted monsters is now on a superhero show. Seems fitting. She’s also a singer who released her first album in 2016. She acts, sings, dances, and writes advice columns for the magazine Tiger Beat.

West Virginia- Emma & Mason

Prior to its boom in popularity, Mason was either a profession (a stone worker) or a surname. In 2011, the name held the #2 spot for all boys names in the US. The surname, according to Ancestry.com, is mostly Scottish or English in origin. The site also reminds us that, “Stonemasonry was a hugely important craft in the Middle Ages.”

Even more interestingly, Oh Baby! Names details, “As a surname, Mason dates back to at least the 11th century England when last names were issued as a form of identification for taxation purposes. Occupations became one of the key ways to classify a citizen. This is how Robert the baker became Robert Baker and Richard the stoneworker became Richard Mason. It’s uncertain when Mason began to be used as a forename for boys, but we know it dates back to at least the 19th century in America.”

Wisconsin- Evelyn & Oliver

Wisconsin brings Evelyn to the list, though boy’s name Oliver still reigns. Evelyn Robin was a new character introduced to audiences on 2018, thanks to the live-action Christopher Robin. She’s Christopher Robin’s rather independent minded wife. Fandom tells us, “She is loosely based on Christopher Robin’s real life spouse, Lesley de Selincourt, who was also his first cousin from his mother’s family.” Wait, there was a real Christopher Robin?!

Wyoming- Amelia & Oliver

Image: Instagram/Anannymatch

It seems that finding a middle name for Amelia can be tricky. One Baby Name Wizard user asked her fellows, “I’m pregnant with #2 and our first girl. Son’s name is Judah Cary (Cary is his dad’s middle name) and we know Baby Girl will be Amelia, but we can’t settle on a middle name. We’d rather not use any family names so that isn’t an easy fallback.For a while we’d decided on Amelia Aveline but I wasn’t a big fan of the alliteration. Names I’ve loved are Blythe, Claire and Suze – I love the sounds of the single syllable names with a longer name like Amelia – but hubby isn’t sold on any of them. Any ideas? We’d rather not use something super common like Grace or Jane. :)” Do you have any ideas for her?