The most popular baby names in Kansas last year were repeat champions, federal data show

The most popular baby names in Kansas last year were Liam and Olivia, according to newly released data compiled by the federal Social Security Administration.

Kansas parents chose the state’s most popular names for boys and girls more than 1,500 times in 2022. Liam and Oliver ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, among boys’ names after topping the charts in 2021. Meanwhile, Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia and Emma repeated in order as the top four picks for newborn girls.

Asher and Hudson moved into the top 10 picks for boys’ names in 2022, replacing Wyatt and Leo, which respectively finished No. 8 and No. 10 in 2021, but checked in at No. 27 and 30 last year. Sophia, No. 7 in 2021, dropped out of the top 10 in 2022 and opened a slot for Hazel to move up.

Here’s a look at the most popular baby names in Kansas and across the U.S.

Most popular baby names in Kansas

These were the 10 most popular names given to boys born in Kansas in 2022, according to the SSA:

1. Liam (179 births)
2. Oliver (167)
3. Henry (164)
4. Theodore (145)
5. Noah (139)
6. James (130)
7. Elijah (121)
8. Asher (117)
9. Hudson (114)
10. William (111)

These were the 10 most popular names given to girls born in Kansas last year, the SSA reports:

1. Olivia (167 births)
2. Charlotte (160)
3. Amelia (138)
4. Emma (128)
5. Harper (114)
6. Evelyn (110)
7. Eleanor (94)
8. Hazel (88)
9. Ava (85)
10. Isabella (85)

National naming trends

Here’s a look at the most popular baby names across the country in 2022. Notably, Kansas favorites like Asher, Hudson, Harper and Hazel were absent from the nationwide list.

The SSA compiles the nation’s most popular baby names by tracking applications for Social Security cards. Head over to the agency’s website to see annual baby name data releases since 1960, plus information on several data limitations.

When compiling name data, the SSA maintains several qualifications for including names in its annual release. For example, the agency removes hyphens and spaces when tabulating data, so “Julie-Anne,” “Julie Anne” and “Julieanne” would all be considered the same name entry. Meanwhile, different spellings of names that sound the same — Hailey and Haylee, Steven and Stephen and so on — are considered separate entries.

Matt DiSanto

Centre Daily Times

814-231-4616

Matt is a 2022 Penn State graduate. Before arriving at the Centre Daily Times, he served as Onward State’s managing editor and a general assignment reporter at StateCollege.com. Support my work with a digital subscription