These were PA’s most popular baby names last year. See which ones made the cut
The most popular baby girl’s name in Pennsylvania has changed from 2023 to 2024, according to new data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, while the top name for boys stayed the same.
The federal agency releases a list of the top 100 most frequently given names to newborn girls and boys each year by state and nationally. In 2024, Olivia took over the No. 1 spot for girls, with 513 newborns in the Keystone State receiving the name. The name Olivia jumped, as it was the second most popular in Pennsylvania in 2023.
Although the name Olivia’s popularity increased from 2023 to 2024, there were fewer newborns named Olivia in 2024 compared to the previous year. The U.S. national birthrate dropped to a record-low rate of fewer than 1.6 children born per woman in 2024, as reported by CBS news.
Noah took the No. 1 spot for the most popular baby boy’s name in Pennsylvania for both of the previous two years, with 694 newborn Noahs in 2023 and 740 in 2024.
While some parents are opting for unique naming trends such as spelling common names differently or choosing more ethereal-sounding monikers, the most popular baby names in Pennsylvania remain relatively traditional. Seven of the 10 top baby girl names in the commonwealth end with the letter “a.”
What are the most popular baby names in Pennsylvania?
Here’s how the top 10 baby names for girls born in Pennsylvania in 2024 compared, according to the SSA data:
1. Olivia (513 newborns)
2. Charlotte (487)
3. Emma (460)
4. Sophia (432)
5. Amelia (430)
6. Mia (348)
7. Isabella (341)
8. Harper (339)
9. Evelyn (337)
10. Ava (320)
And here’s how the top 10 most popular baby names for boys born in Pennsylvania stacked up for 2024:
1. Noah (740)
2. Liam (611)
3. Oliver (597)
4. Theodore (506)
5. Henry (468)
6. James (433)
7. Lucas (400)
8. Benjamin (392)
9. Levi (390)
10. Jack (372)
Here’s how the top 10 most popular U.S. baby names for girls compared in 2024:
1. Olivia
2. Emma
3. Amelia
4. Charlotte
5. Mia
6. Sophia
7. Isabella
8. Evelyn
9. Ava
10. Sofia
And here are the top 10 baby names for boys born in the U.S. in 2024:
1. Liam
2. Noah
3. Oliver
4. Theodore
5. James
6. Henry
7. Mateo
8. Elijah
9. Lucas
10. William
Some of the names that saw the greatest increase in popularity in the U.S. from 2023 to 2024 were Ailany, Aylani, Marjorie, Scottie and Analeia for girls, and Truce, Colsen, Bryer, Halo and Azaiah for boys.
Conversely, girls’ names Emryn, Zhuri, Layne, Alitzel and Kamari saw the greatest declines in popularity in 2024, while less popular boys’ names included Khari, Karsyn, Kye, Kole and Khai.
