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.