Yahoo Lifestyle 21 Best 1990s Baby Names That Are Still Relevant Today
If you're looking for a name for your baby, congratulations! It's an exciting time in anyone's life. To help you find the perfect name for your new arrival, we've gathered some of the most popular 1990s baby names for you to explore. If you're a '90s kid, you might even find your own name on here.
What we love about 1990s names is that they often feel classic and understated without feeling old-fashioned or out-of-place in the 2020s. Names like Michael, Jessica, and Emily were among the top 5 most popular names for babies born in the 1990s, according to the Social Security Administration, and they're still plenty popular today.
If you're looking for even more name inspiration, don't miss our collections of old-fashioned baby names, boy names that start with J, boy names that start with D, and girl names that start with E.
Michael
According to the Social Security Administration, Michael was the most popular name for boys born in the 1990s, with 462,411 Michaels born during the decade. It's so popular, in fact, that it was
the number one name in the U.S. for boys born between 1961 and 1998. Michael is a Hebrew name that means "who resembles God?"
Jessica
Jessica was the most popular name of the 1990s for girls, according to the Social Security Administration. 303,122 Jessicas were born in the U.S. during the decade! The name Jessica is of Hebrew origin and means "behold" or "wealthy." It's a classic name with plenty of adorable built-in nicknames like Jessie, Jess, and Jessa.
Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearing Christ." Early Christians used this name to indicate that they carried Christ in their hearts. It's also often associated with Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. It's a sturdy, meaningful name for a family of faith and will be especially fitting if your guy grows up to be a world traveler.
Ashley
Another popular 1990s baby name, Ashley is a name that means "ash tree clearing." It's derived from an English surname and up until the 1960s, was more commonly used as a name for boys than for girls. While it was in the top 10 most popular names for girls born in the '90s, today it isn't even in the top 100, making it a more unique choice for 2020s parents.
Matthew
The name Matthew is of Hebrew origin and means "gift of God." It's a name with plenty of international appeal: There are more than 25 linguistic variations of the name Matthew in countries around the world, such as Mateo (Spanish), Matheus (Portuguese), and Matthaious (Greek). In the U.S., it's still one of the top 50 most popular names for boys.
Emily
This classic, feminine name comes from the medieval Roman name Aemilius and translates roughly to "rival" or "to emulate." The name Emily has been a consistently popular name for girls born in the U.S. since 1880, peaking as the most popular name for girls from 1996 to 2007. It's still plenty popular today, as the 18th most common name for girls born in the U.S. in 2023.
Joshua
Joshua is a Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh is salvation," Yahweh being a form of the Hebrew name for God. It's a name with strong Biblical ties that happens to feel very modern. In the 1990s, it was one of the top 5 names for boys; today it's number 60.
Sarah
Sarah is a beautiful Hebrew name that means "lady," "princess," or "noblewoman." Seems fitting for the girl who is about to be the princess of your family! It's a classic, wholesome name that's easy for her to grow with. It's neither too childish nor too grown-up.
Jacob
This classic name has Hebrew origins and has multiple meanings. Jacob can mean "to follow" or "to supplant" or "may God protect." In the 1990s, it was the fifth most popular name for boys, with 298,402 babies named Jacob during this decade. It's still a popular name today. It's strong, simple, and will always be in style.
Samantha
Samantha means "told by God." It's a name of Hebrew origin and is commonly thought to be a feminization of the name Samuel. In the 1990s, it was one of the top 10 names for girls, peaking in 1998 at number 3. Though slightly less common today, it's still a sweet and spunky name for a baby girl.
Nicholas
This powerful name means "victory of the people." It's of Greek origin. It's particularly perfect for your Christmas baby, thanks to the connection with Saint Nicholas, a.k.a. Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas is also the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants. It also has easy built-in nicknames: Nick, Nicky, Colin, and Cole, for starters.
Amanda
This name has a very sweet meaning. Amanda is a name of Latin origin that means "worthy of love." It was especially popular from the late 1970s through the 1990s, when it remained in the top 10 names for baby girls. Today, it's less common, so it's a great choice if you want something classic but don't want her to have the same name as 10 other children at her school.
Andrew
This grounded, enduring name is Greek and means "manly" or "masculine." The name Andrew has been held by many notable historical figures, including one of Jesus' disciples, numerous kings, and a U.S. president. Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, and Romania, so this name could be a nod to your heritage if your family comes from one of those countries.
Brittany
This peppy name comes from the region of France called Brittany. It was named after the British people who migrated to the area. It was in the top 10 baby names for girls from 1986 to 1995. Today, people might associate it with Britney Spears, though her name is spelled slightly differently.
Daniel
Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin that means "God is my judge." It was one of the top 10 names for boys in the 1990s and today feels strong and approachable. This name also has Biblical connotations, thanks to the story of the prophet who was thrown into a den of lions and survived.
Elizabeth
The name Elizabeth has consistently been one of the most popular names for girls in the U.S. for over a century, rarely leaving the top 20 most popular names. In the 1990s, it was the eighth most popular name of the decade for girls. It's a name of Hebrew origin that means "pledged to God." If you're looking for something truly timeless, we'd add this name to your list.
Tyler
Another name that exploded in popularity during the 1990s, Tyler is an English name with a literal meaning: "maker of tiles." In the 1990s, just over 262,000 Tylers were born in the United States. The name peaked in popularity in 1993 and 1994, when it was the fifth most popular name for boys. In 2023, it's the 177th most popular name for boys, so it'll stand out slightly more.
Taylor
The name Taylor is a gender-neutral name, though in the 1990s, it was far more popular as a female name than a male one. It has French origins and means "tailor" or "to cut." This classic, bright name has famous namesakes like Elizabeth Taylor, Taylor Swift, and James Taylor, among many others. It's a great name for parents who like the trend of using last names as first names but want something slightly subtle.
Joseph
The name Joseph has Greek and Hebrew roots and means "he will add" or "God will increase." It's a Biblical name and, within the U.S., has stayed in the top 25 names for boys since 1880. It's a tried-and-true, grounded name that's a classic for a reason. And you can call him Joey, which is a pretty adorable nickname!
Megan
If you like gemstone names, but can't get on board with naming your daughter Ruby or Diamond, try this name on for size. The name Megan is a girl's name of Welsh origin, meaning "pearl." How pretty is that? It's also a nice name if you're looking to honor a Margaret in your family but want a name that feels more timeless.
Hannah
The name Hannah means "favor" or "grace of God." It has Hebrew origins and has consistently been in the top 50 names for girls since 1986. It peaked in popularity in the 1990s, but is still plenty popular today. There are also numerous ways to spell this name, including Hanna and Hana.
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