The national chart hides a lot of regional variation. The SSA publishes state-level lists, and in 2025 the #1 name was not the same everywhere.
#1 girl and boy name in selected states (2025)
| State | #1 girl | #1 boy |
|---|---|---|
| (National) | Olivia | Liam |
| California | Olivia | Liam |
| Texas | Emma | Liam |
| New York | Emma | Noah |
| Utah | Emma | Oliver |
| Louisiana | Amelia | Noah |
A few patterns stand out: Emma is a frequent state-level #1 for girls even though Olivia leads nationally, and Noah overtakes Liam for boys in several states. Utah’s Oliver at #1 is a good example of a regional preference diverging from the national list.
Why the lists differ
State naming reflects local culture, language background, religion and age structure. Spanish-origin names rank higher in border and Southwestern states; traditional and biblical names index higher in parts of the South and Mountain West. Because the differences are real and measurable, the state pages are some of the most interesting to browse.
See the most popular baby names by state for all 51 jurisdictions (top 25 each), or the national top 100 for 2025.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Administration, state-specific baby-name data (state data through 2025, public domain).