This year’s second round of data on U.S. baby names gives a state-by-state breakdown, revealing the choices particularly popular in California.
The state lists follow the Social Security Administration’s release of nationwide name data for 2024, which had Liam in the top place for boys and Olivia for girls.
In California, the top name for boys is also Liam; for girls it’s Mia (No. 5 in the U.S.). But several of the top 25 in the state were more than 10 places ahead of their position on the national list:
Boys’ name
Calif rank
US rank
Santiago
4
29
Julian
6
30
Ezekiel
13
54
Alexander
15
27
Angel
22
63
Girls’ name
Calif rank
US rank
Gianna
10
23
Aria
14
26
Valentina
17
47
Mila
18
33
Elena
21
45
On the flip side, these names were markedly less popular in California than in the nation as a whole:
Boys’ name
US rank
Calif rank
Theodore
4
21
James
5
24
Henry
6
29
William
10
41
Jack
15
51
Samuel
17
36
Asher
20
60
John
21
83
Girls’ name
US rank
Calif rank
Harper
12
50
Emily
13
25
Eleanor
14
46
Hazel
19
34
Nora
22
55
California has been the bellwether for some names that jumped in popularity nationwide in recent years. Mateo was No. 4 in California back in 2018, when it was No. 37 in the United States; last year, it was No. 3 in California, No. 7 in the U.S. And Camila, for several years a top 5 pick in California, has now risen to 11th nationwide.