Most Popular Baby Names Of 1993

The 1993 baby name data reveals some fascinating shifts in naming preferences across the US and UK. In the top ranks, Jessica claimed the #1 spot for girls in the US, moving up from #2 in 1992, while Ashley dropped to second place. For US boys, the top three remained remarkably stable with Michael, Christopher, and Matthew holding their positions firmly. In the UK, Emma maintained her reign as the #1 girls' name for the second consecutive year, while Andrew surged to the top position for boys, overtaking David who had been #1 in 1992.

Looking at the top 10 US girls' names in 1993, Jessica's rise to #1 stands out as the most significant change. Sarah held steady at #3, while Samantha climbed two positions to #4. Emily continued its upward trajectory, reaching #5 from #7 the previous year. Brittany slipped slightly from #4 to #6, while Taylor made an impressive jump into the top 10, landing at #7. Amanda dropped five spots from #3 to #8, showing one of the most dramatic shifts within the top names. Elizabeth and Stephanie rounded out the top 10, with both names holding relatively stable positions.

For US boys in 1993, the top 10 showed less movement than the girls' list, suggesting greater stability in boys' naming trends. Jacob made the most notable climb within the top ranks, moving up to #9 from #15 in 1992. Tyler also improved its position, rising to #5 from #8. Andrew, conversely, slipped from #5 to #10, while Brandon held steady at #6. Nicholas moved up to #8 from #12, entering the top 10. Traditional names like James and Joseph remained popular but shifted positions slightly within the top 15 ranks.

Broader naming patterns reveal some interesting trends across both countries. In the US, girls' names ending in "a" were particularly popular (Jessica, Samantha), while boys' names tended to favor traditional, biblical choices (Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua). The UK showed a preference for shorter names, with Emma and Ryan ranking high. There's also a noticeable trend of unisex names gaining popularity in both countries, with names like Taylor and Jordan appearing on both boys' and girls' lists. Interestingly, while some names like Jessica and Michael dominated the US charts, they ranked much lower in the UK, highlighting regional preferences in naming conventions.

Differences Between American and British Naming

British parents prefer short names that feel traditional and friendly. Names like Jack, Charlie, Alfie, and Freddie are popular, and many started as nicknames but are now used as full names. The royal family and history also influence naming choices in the UK.

On the other hand, US parents tend to choose longer or more stylish names, especially for girls. Names ending in -a, like Samantha, Olivia, and Jessica, are common, while boys’ names like Ethan, Mason, and Logan follow popular trends. American names are inspired by culture, media, and celebrities for a more modern feel.

Famous People Born in 1993

Ariana Grande

• Born: June 26, 1993 (Boca Raton, Florida)

• Career: Pop Singer

Ariana Grande is a leading pop star who debuted with her album Yours Truly in 2013, followed by My Everything, featuring hits like "Break Free" and "Problem." She first gained recognition as an actress, playing Cat Valentine on the Victorious and Sam & Cat (Nickelodeon).

The name Ariana is of Greek origin, coming from the word Ariadne, which means “most holy” or “very pure.”

Liam Payne

• Born: August 29, 1993 (Wolverhampton, England)

• Career: Pop Singer

Liam Payne was a singer-songwriter who first became famous as a member of the boy band One Direction. He went solo in 2017 with the single "Strip That Down" and released his first solo album (LP1) in 2019, which included collaborations with artists like Rita Ora, J Balvin, and Zedd.

The name Liam comes from the Irish name Uilliam, which comes from the Germanic name Wilhelm. It combines 'wil' meaning "will" or "desire" and 'helm' meaning "helmet" or "protection."

Kevin Langue

• Born: June 23, 1993 (Paris, France)

• Career: YouTube Star

Kevin Langue is a social media star known for his self-titled YouTube channel. He gained popularity through sketch comedy, daily vlogs, and social commentary. Some of his videos recreate popular shows like Hot Ones and America’s Got Talent in his own unique style.

The name Kevin comes from the Irish name Caoimhín, which means “gentle, handsome, or kind little one.”

Zayn Malik

• Born: January 12, 1993 (Bradford, England)

• Career: Pop Singer

Zayn Malik is an English singer who was first recognized as a member of One Direction. He left the band in 2015 and released his debut solo album (Mind of Mine) in 2016, featuring the hit "Pillowtalk." In 2018, he made his second album (Icarus Falls), which has the popular track "Dusk Till Dawn" with Sia.

The name Zayn, also spelled Zain, comes from Arabic and means “beauty” or “grace.”

Victoria Justice

• Born: February 19, 1993 (Hollywood, Florida)

• Career: TV Actress

Victoria Justice is an actress known for her roles on shows like Zoey 101, Victorious, and iCarly. She also took the main role in The Boy Who Cried Werewolf and performed songs for the musical Spectacular!. In 2015, she appeared on the MTV thriller series Eye Candy.

The name Victoria comes from Latin and means “victory” or “conqueror.”

Morgan Wallen

• Born: May 13, 1993 (Sneedville, Tennessee)

• Career: Country Singer

Morgan Wallen is a country singer and songwriter who first gained attention on season 6 of NBC's The Voice. During his audition, he sang Howie Day’s "Collide," impressing judges Shakira and Usher.

The name Morgan comes from Old Welsh, combining 'mor' (sea) and 'gen' (born of), which means “sea-born.”

Niall Horan

• Born: September 13, 1993 (Mullingar, Ireland)

• Career: Pop Singer

Niall Horan is a great Irish singer-songwriter who first became famous as a member of One Direction. He went solo in 2017 with the album Flicker, which included hits like "Slow Hands" and "This Town." He later released Heartbreak Weather in 2020 and The Show in 2023. Niall is also a recurring coach on the reality show The Voice.

The name Niall comes from Old Irish and is thought to mean “champion” or “cloud.” Some scholars also link it to the word ‘néll,’ meaning “passion” or “ardor.”

Meghan Trainor

• Born: December 22, 1993 (Nantucket, Massachusetts)

• Career: Pop Singer

Meghan Trainor is a singer-songwriter who broke out in 2014 with her hit single "All About That Bass." The song won her a Billboard Music Award for Top Digital Song in 2015, and Epic Records signed her after L.A. Reid heard her demo.

The name Meghan comes from the Welsh name Megan, which is a form of Margaret. Margaret roots from the Greek word margarites, meaning “pearl.”

Suga

• Born: March 9, 1993 (Daegu, South Korea)

• Career: Rapper

Suga (Min Yoon-gi) is a renowned South Korean rapper and member of the K-pop group BTS. He released a Japanese album (Wake Up) and a Korean album (Dark & Wild) in 2014. His debut mixtape (Agust D) came out in 2016, and he released his first solo album in 2023.

The stage name “Suga” comes from his days as a basketball shooting guard (SG). It also sounds like the English word “sugar.”

Barbara Palvin

• Born: October 8, 1993 (Budapest, Hungary)

• Career: Model

Barbara Palvin is a Hungarian fashion model who has collaborated with Vogue and Victoria’s Secret. She was named Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie of the Year in 2016 and debuted for Prada. In 2019, she rose as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, making her the first Hungarian model to earn her wings.

The name Barbara roots from the Greek word barbaros, which originally meant “foreign” or “strange.” Over time, it came to be seen in a more positive light, meaning “exotic” or “unusual.”

Witney Carson

• Born: October 17, 1993 (American Fork, Utah)

• Career: Instagram Star

Witney Carson is an American dancer and actress known for ballroom dancing. She competed on So You Think You Can Dance at 18 and ranked among the top three female contestants. She later became a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars and has appeared in TV dance series and the 2013 production of East Side Story.

The name Witney comes from Old English, combining “witan” (to know) and “ey” (island), meaning “knowledgeable island” or “island of wisdom.”

Elizabeth Gillies

• Born: July 26, 1993 (Haworth, New Jersey)

• Career: TV Actress

Elizabeth Gillies is an actress who first attracted attention on Broadway as Lucy in 13. She is best known for portraying Jade West on Victorious and appeared in The Animal (2014). In 2017, she joined the cast of Dynasty as Fallon Carrington.

The name Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning “God is my oath” or “pledged to God.”

Pete Davidson

• Born: November 16, 1993 (Staten Island, New York)

• Career: Comedian

Pete Davidson is a notable stand-up comedian and actor best known for being a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2014 to 2022. He co-wrote and starred in the 2020 film The King of Staten Island and was the first SNL performer born in the 1990s.

The name Pete is a short form of Peter, which roots from the Greek word petros, meaning “rock” or “stone.”

Keke Palmer

• Born: August 26, 1993 (Harvey, Illinois)

• Career: Movie Actress

Keke Palmer is an actress best known for her main role in Akeelah and the Bee (2006). She has also appeared in Barbershop 2, Joyful Noise, Rags, and Hustlers. On TV, she starred in Scream Queens and played Marty in Grease Live! in 2016.

The name Keke is of African origin and can mean “praise” in Nigerian Igbo. In Hawaiian, it means “pure” or “white.”

Joji

• Born: September 16, 1993 (Osaka, Japan)

• Career: Pop Artist

Joji is a musician who first gained fame on YouTube with channels like TVFilthyFrank and DizastaMusic. He created popular characters such as Filthy Frank, Pink Guy, and Lemon Guy before focusing on his music career under the name Joji.

The name Joji is the Japanese version of the Western name George, which comes from the Greek Georgios, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker.”

Debby Ryan

• Born: May 13, 1993 (Huntsville, Alabama)

• Career: TV Actress

Debby Ryan is an actress best known for her roles on Disney shows like The Suite Life on Deck and Jessie. She shined in the TV movie 16 Wishes, which became the most-watched cable program on its premiere day, and in 2018, she played Patty on Netflix's Insatiable.

The name Debby is a form of Deborah, which comes from Hebrew and means “bee.”

Jasmine Chiswell

• Born: December 9, 1993 (Scotland)

• Career: TikTok Star

Jasmine Chiswell is a social media star known for her TikTok account (@jasminechiswell), where she dresses as Marilyn Monroe. She has over 18 million followers and lives in Marilyn Monroe’s former Hollywood home.

The name Jasmine comes from the Persian word yasamin, which refers to the fragrant jasmine flower. It symbolizes beauty, delicacy, and sweetness.

Perrie Edwards

• Born: July 10, 1993 (South Shields, England)

• Career: Pop Singer

Perrie Edwards is a singer best known as a member of the girl group Little Mix, alongside Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall. The group made history as the first all-girl band to win The X Factor with their cover of Alanis Morissette’s "You Oughta Know."

The name Perrie is a variant of Perry, which means “pear tree” or refers to someone who lived near a pear orchard.

Stefon Diggs

• Born: November 29, 1993 (Gaithersburg, Maryland)

• Career: Football Player

Stefon Diggs is a wide receiver who played college football at the University of Maryland. He was chosen in the fifth round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and was ranked the second-best receiver in the nation coming out of high school.

The name Stefon is a variant of Stephen, which originates from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning “crown” or “garland,” a symbol of honor and victory.

Sofia Carson

• Born: April 10, 1993 (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

• Career: TV Actress

Sofia Carson is best known for her lead role in the Descendants (Disney) and appearances on MTV’s Faking It. She is also a singer and bilingual songwriter, signing with BMI in 2012, and starred in Netflix’s Purple Hearts.

The name Sofia comes from Greek and means “wisdom” or “knowledge.”

Top baby names of 1993