Popular in California Baby Names

California baby names blend all sorts of influences – the counterculture of San Francisco, the coastal vibe of beachfront towns, Hollywood glam, and more.

The most popular baby names in California show heavy influence from Spanish culture and language. Even if you’re not a native speaker, the Latino community is a big part of the state’s history and heritage – and has been since the very earliest days. From street names to businesses, the influence is woven throughout the state.

Of course, California is a massive state, bigger than Japan or the UK. It’s the world’s sixth largest economy.

Noah – the #1 name in California for boys – was given to 2,654 children born in calendar year 2023. That’s about 1/7th of the 18,995 boys born in the US during those twelve months.

So California baby names? They have a lot of influence.

But this list isn’t just about the most popular picks. It’s also about the less expected choices. Place names and heritage finds that might be exactly right for a family with roots in the state – even if they now live elsewhere.

CALIFORNIA as a BABY NAME

And, of course, California might be a given name.

Despite the state’s considerable influence on pop culture, it’s relatively rare as a given name. Just five girls were named California in 2023.

The name first debuted in US data way back in 1918, with six girls receiving the name.

It has never been given to five or more boys in a single calendar year, which makes it so rare that the US Social Security Administration does not report data.

Just Cali, a popular nickname for the state, has been popular for girls. But it’s tough to separate the many reasons parents might consider Cali – or Callie, Kallie, or Kali – from California itself.

As it happens, California comes from a given name.

Spanish settlers named the territory Las Californias, inspired by the sixteenth century Las sergas de Esplandián – The Adventures of Esplandián. Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo penned the epic around 1510, just a few decades before the first Europeans reached San Diego Bay in 1542.

In the novel, Calafia is the name of a pagan warrior queen, ruling an island named California. Esplandián fights on the side of the Christians, defending Constantinople from Muslim forces.

Calafia leads an all-female army, along with their trained griffins, into battle on the Muslim side.

However, Calafia is taken prisoner. She eventually converts to Christianity and marries a Christian soldier, before returning home to rule her kingdom.

Calafia comes from the Arabic khalifa – caliph, or ruler.

While we’ve forgotten the details, Calafia is still depicted as the spirit of California.

That said, no one is naming their daughters Calafia, at least not in the US.

TOP TEN BOY NAMES in CALIFORNIA

1. NOAH (#2 in the US)

The former favorite name in the US is still on top in California.

2. LIAM (#1 in the US)

We think of Liam as Irish, but it’s also very popular with Spanish-speaking families.

3. MATEO (#6 in the US)

The Spanish form of Matthew, and another clear signal that the Spanish language influences names choices throughout the state.

4. SEBASTIAN (#13 in the US)

Saintly and traditional, Sebastian has become a new favorite in recent decades.

5. SANTIAGO (#45 in the US)

A good example of how Spanish language and culture can make a style star out of a name that’s relatively uncommon elsewhere in the US.

6. JULIAN (#33 in the US)

Another names with decades of use, now more popular than ever before.

7. OLIVER (#3 in the US)

Something had to fall in use to make space for Mateo, Santiago, Sebastian, and Julian.

8. BENJAMIN (#11 in the US)

A classic name popular in California, just like everywhere else.

9. ELIJAH (#5 in the US)

Like Oliver, Elijah is still used in big numbers in the Golden State – just not quite as big as some other names.

10. EZEKIEL (#50 in the US)

A Biblical boy name rising in use a little faster in California than elsewhere in the US.

TOP TEN GIRL NAMES in CALIFORNIA

1. OLIVIA (#1 in the US)

Tops across the US, and in California.

2. MIA (#6 in the US)

Mini name Mia performs slightly better in the state than in the US as a whole.

3. CAMILA (#13 in the US)

The first clear influence from the Spanish language is Camila’s sky-high #3 rank.

4. EMMA (#2 in the US)

Californians (almost) agree with rest of the country, with very popular Emma remaining near the top of the charts.

5. ISABELLA (#7 in the US)

A long-time favorite for families seeking Spanish-English crossover choices.

6. SOPHIA (#5 in the US)

Combined with fellow Top Ten name Sofia, this name would easily leapfrog ahead of Olivia.

7. SOFIA (#12 in the US)

Add it up with Sophia, and this name is everywhere on the West Coast.

8. LUNA (#9 in the US)

A new favorite for families looking for bilingual English/Spanish names, Luna’s crossover popularity has helped push it into the overall US Top Ten.

9. AMELIA (#4 in the US)

As with Oliver and Benjamin, Amelia isn’t unpopular in California – it’s just pushed aside by some California favorites.

10. GIANNA (#21 in the US)

The tragic loss of Kobe and Gianna Bryant pushed this name into broader use, particularly in their home state of California.

TOP 100 BOY NAMES in CALIFORNIA

Names marked with a * do not appear in the US Top 100.

1. Noah
2. Liam
3. Mateo
4. Sebastian
5. Santiago
6. Julian
7. Oliver
8. Benjamin
9. Elijah
10. Ezekiel
11. Ezra
12. Ethan
13. Alexander
14. Daniel
15. Lucas
16. Leo
17. Luca
18. Elias
19. Matthew
20. Levi
21. Angel
22. Dylan
23. James
24. Theodore
25. Isaac
26. Michael
27. Jacob
28. David
29. Aiden
30. Leonardo
31. Anthony
32. Adrian
33. Jayden
34. Emiliano*
35. Damian*
36. Isaiah
37. Gael
38. Nathan
39. Aaron
40. Samuel
41. Luke
42. William
43. Henry
44. Adriel
45. Jose
46. Joseph
47. Jack
48. Logan
49. Caleb
50. Mason
51. Gabriel
52. Roman
53. Josiah
54. Ian
55. Kai
56. Enzo
57. Miles
58. Thiago
59. Owen
60. Andrew
61. Axel
62. Joshua
63. Diego
64. Asher
65. Christopher
66. Xavier*
67. Dominic
68. Jackson
69. Maverick
70. Christian
71. Lorenzo*
72. Luis*
73. Thomas
74. Jonathan
75. Ivan*
76. Luka
77. Ryan
78. Adam*
79. Hudson
80. Matteo
81. Emilio*
82. Carlos*
83. Jesus*
84. Theo
85. John
86. Wyatt
87. Jeremiah
88. Matias*
89. Nolan
90. Juan*
91. Eli
92. Jordan
93. Giovanni*
94. Nicholas*
95. Andres*
96. Alejandro*
97. Evan*
98. Leon*
99. Grayson
100. Austin*

TOP 100 GIRL NAMES in CALIFORNIA

Names marked with a * do not appear in the US Top 100.

1. Olivia
2. Mia
3. Camila
4. Emma
5. Isabella
6. Sophia
7. Sofia
8. Luna
9. Amelia
10. Gianna
11. Emily
12. Charlotte
13. Aria
14. Ava
15. Mila
16. Evelyn
17. Penelope
18. Eliana
19. Valentina
20. Victoria
21. Zoe
22. Natalia
23. Lily
24. Abigail
25. Chloe
26. Aurora
27. Emilia
28. Scarlett
29. Violet
30. Maya
31. Delilah
32. Elena
33. Layla
34. Avery
35. Ellie
36. Hazel
37. Ella
38. Isla
39. Elizabeth
40. Genesis
41. Leilani
42. Ariana
43. Madison
44. Zoey
45. Leah
46. Ximena*
47. Naomi
48. Aaliyah
49. Harper
50. Jade
51. Eleanor
52. Ivy
53. Samantha*
54. Athena
55. Riley
56. Alina*
57. Grace
58. Audrey
59. Hannah
60. Liliana
61. Stella
62. Nora
63. Melanie*
64. Valeria*
65. Melody*
66. Hailey
67. Catalina*
68. Nova
69. Allison
70. Natalie
71. Lucia*
72. Maria
73. Lucy
74. Ruby
75. Iris
76. Bella*
77. Sophie
78. Alice
79. Ayla*
80. Madelyn
81. Adeline
82. Alaia*
83. Emery
84. Valerie*
85. Everly
86. Andrea*
87. Madeline
88. Daisy*
89. Eva*
90. Kamila*
91. Juliette*
92. Leia*
93. Amaya*
94. Claire
95. Kaia*
96. Sienna*
97. Nevaeh*
98. Amara*
99. Amira*
100. Isabel*

DISTINCTIVE CALIFORNIA PLACE NAMES

AVALON

It’s paradise in the legends of King Arthur, a ground-breaking Roxy Music album, and the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island, California.

BERKELEY

Located across the San Fransisco Bay, Berkeley is a place name and an academic one, too, thanks to the prestigious University of California, Berkeley.

BODIE

Way back in 1876, gold was found in Bodie. It quickly became a boom town, and just as quickly faded to ghost town status. But it endures as the Bodie Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. It’s named for prospector WS Bodey, whose named was misspelled on a sign.

CARMEL

Officially named Carmel-by-the-Sea, the picturesque coastal town has long been a haven for artists and writers.

CATALINA

Strictly speaking, Santa Catalina is part of Los Angeles County. But it’s a separate world, a rocky island paradise reached by ferry, helicopter, or a small private plane.

CLARA, CLARITA

Romance language forms of classic Clare/Claire, both found on the map preceded by Santa. Clara is a favorite in the US, so it’s a subtle California choice, but Clarita is rare – and very much suggests the Los Angeles neighbor.

DAVIS

A city in the Sacramento Valley, Davis is known for agriculture, as well as the University of California, Davis.

FRANCIS, FRANCISCO

Visit the City by the Bay, and the name is everywhere. There’s a Saint Francis hotel and a hospital. That’s because Spanish settlers first built the Mission San Francisco de Asís, founded in 1776. It’s the heart of the city’s Mission District today, though if you visit the original settlement, you’re looking Mission Dolores. That’s because a nearby creek was named after Our Lady of Sorrows.

GRIFFITH

Even if you’ve never been to Los Angeles, chances are you’ll recognize Griffith Observatory, standing on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park. From the 1930s to Rebel Without a Cause to La La Land, it’s appeared in many an iconic movie scene. It’s also quite close to the Hollywood sign. Opened in 1935, it’s named for the philanthropist Griffith Jenkins Griffith – not a typo! – who gifted the land to the city.

INDIO

Located in the heart of the Coachella Valley, this former railroad town is now internationally famous as the location of the annual festival. Robert Downey Jr. named his son Indio way back in 1993. The only challenge? Is the name’s meaning – it’s the Spanish word for Indian – problematic? In our age of kids named India and Indiana, probably not, but it’s worth consideration.

MARIN

Maren is a fast-rising favorite for our daughters, but Marin – as in the county northwest of the San Francisco Bay – is pronounced differently. Stories about the county’s name vary, but many suggest that it was named for Chief Marin. The indigenous leader adopted the name Marino on his baptism.

MONICA

As in Santa Monica, one of the many notable California places named for a saint.

MONTEREY

Known as California’s first city, Monterey was named for the Spanish nobleman Don Gaspár de Zúñiga y Acevedo, 5th Count of Monterrey, governor of New Spain who ordered the map-making that necessiated naming the place. That’s right – between the nobleman and the location, Monterey dropped an R.

SHASTA

Way back during the Gold Rush, Shasta was a bustling town. While those days are long gone, the Shasta State Historic Park remains. CS Lewis gave the name to a male character; the Shasta daisy makes it feminine.

SIMEON

San Simeon is perhaps most famous as home to the Hearst Castle. Built as a family home for the wealthy Hearst family, it has long been a historic landmark and museum.

SONOMA

Right outside San Fransisco, and home to much of California’s wine country, Sonoma is picturesque and quite name-like, especially considering choices like Sienna.

TAHOE

As in Lake Tahoe, the lake and surrounding recreational area on the Nevada/California border. It comes from a native word meaning simply lake. It’s a major destination, and even hosted the Winter Olympics in 1960.

TOPANGA

Boy Meets World put this unusual place name on parents’ lists. It means “where the mountain meets the sea” in the Tongva language. But for an entire generation, Topanga means Cory’s future wife, thanks to popular 1990s ABC series Boy Meets World. 

TORRANCE

At first glance, it’s a twist on Terrence. Except Torrance, California sits in Los Angeles County. The name comes from Jared Torrance, the real estate developer who created the community in the early 1900s. It caught parents’ attention when Kirsten Dunst played a cheerleader by the name in 2000’s Bring It On. 

NAMES FROM CALIFORNIA HISTORY and SYMBOLS

BEAR

The California Grizzly Bear is, sadly, extinct, but it lives on as the state’s official animal, depicted on the flag and seal, as well as countless souvenirs for the state.

BLUE

The state’s two official colors are blue and gold; in addition, the blue diamond is the state’s official gem. Blue, however, doesn’t immediately shout California the way the other official color does.

GOLDEN

The Golden State’s second official color is, naturally, gold. There’s the Gold Rush. The Golden State Warriors. The University of California, Berkeley’s Golden Bears. The official fish is the Golden Trout. It’s a glittering name that feels very tied to the state’s history and identity.

GRIFFIN

Borrowed from the Calafia story.

POPPY

The state’s flower is the poppy, a name that’s gaining in popularity for girls throughout the English-speaking world. We think of it as a rich, vibrant red, but the echscholzia californica is also known as California sunlight, or the golden poppy.

FAMOUS CALIFORNIANS

ANDRE

This list could go on for pages, but let’s start with Andre Young, known to the world as Dr. Dre. Famously from Compton, California, Dre has graduated to elder statesman of rap music. Somehow that makes this French form of Andrew feel like something specifically Californian.

ANSEL

Perhaps the most famous landscape photographer, Ansel Adams often captured the staggering beauty of the state. A San Francisco native, his photographs of Yosemite National Park are instantly familiar. Beyond his art, Adams was a noted conservationist, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980 for his environmentalism.

EAMES

Legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames changed the very look of the built environment with their groundbreaking furniture designs. The husband-and-wife duo’s surname fits right in with so many s-ending boy names we love today. Her name is interesting, too. Ray was born Bernice Alexandra Kaiser, but her childhood nickname – Ray – stuck.

LEVI

Yes, it’s an Old Testament name. But it’s very blue jean, too. The iconic denim company began in San Francisco 1853, when entrepreneur Levi Strauss realized that he could sell pants – lots of pants – to those seeking their fortunes in the Gold Rush.

MAYA

Plenty of parents have been inspired to name their daughters after the legendary, world-shaking poet and author Maya Angelou. While she didn’t move to California until she was a teenager, Angelou has a very state-specific claim to fame: she was the very first woman  of color to serve as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco.

MUIR

For John Muir, known as the Father of the US National Parks, and celebrated every April 21st on California’s John Muir Day. The Scottish-born naturalist became one of the earliest advocates of environmental preservation in the US. Muir Woods is among many places named in his honor.

REAGAN

Illinois-born Ronald Reagan moved to Hollywood and became an actor, and then governor of California, and eventually, the 40th President of the United States.

WALLIS

Wallis Annenberg isn’t a household name like the poet or the president, but her name is distinctive – and very present in Los Angeles today. Born in Philadelphia, she serves as chairman of the Annenberg Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused primarily on the Los Angeles area. Visit Beverly Hills as you’ll see the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts – widely known as The Wallis.

Do you have a favorite California baby name?