Most Popular Baby Names in 2002

The most popular names from 2002 include staples like Jacob, Matthew, Emily, and Amber. There were a few unique names added to the list as well.

Jacob remained on the list of 2002 boy names. The name, which has roots in both Christian and Jewish traditions, means “Supplanter” and the name is often associated with the Christian Bible character who uses trickery to gain his older brother Esau’s birthright.

There is certainly more to Jacob than the schemes of his younger years. The Bible character ultimately becomes the father of twelve sons all after which the twelve tribes of Israel are later named.

Jacob is often recognized as a patriarch of the Christian. Such may be why his name topped the 2002 baby names list.

Another among 2002 boy names was Ethan. Like Jacob, Ethan also has Hebrew origin with its meaning being “strong or firm.” In North America, the name is often associated with Ethan Allen who was a revolutionary war hero. Ethan is not as high as Jacob on the list of most popular names from 2002. The word does, however, make its mark on the 2002 names list.

Emily was popular among 2002 baby names for girls. The word itself is derived from Latin and means “rival.” Some suspect that parents choose Emily as a name for their daughters because of its embodiment of femininity, class, and strength.

Another favorite among 2002 girl names was Zoe. This name is one of the more unique picks because of its spelling and pronunciation. Zoe has its roots in Greek and means “life.” It is not uncommon for parents who embrace more free-spirited lifestyles to give their daughter this identity. Zoe was not among the ten most favored 2002 girl names. The identifier was, however, among the top 100 choices of the year.

With so much riding on a name, it is important that parents choose one that best fits their child’s personality. Perhaps taking a look back at the most popular names from 2002 can help in your search for the right name for your child.

Most Popular Baby Names by Year