California
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 4
- Peak
- #4,291 in 1918
0 babies were named California in the US in 2025.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1918–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about California you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryCalifornia first shows up in US birth records in 1918, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 107 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1918, when it reached #4,291.
About the name California
California is a gender-neutral name of Spanish origin. It has 10 letters and 4 syllables, starting with C and ending in “-nia”. US birth records list California for girls from 1918 to 2024, in 27 of those 107 years. Its best year was 1918, when it ranked #4,291 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 2024, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:Spanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 4.8 | 208,333 girls |
| 1990s | 0.7 | 1,515,152 girls |
| 2000s | 4.6 | 216,450 girls |
| 2010s | 6.9 | 145,560 girls |
| 2020s | 4.3 | 231,481 girls |
More Spanish names
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Girl name: Sofia · wisdom
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Girl name: Camila · temple attendant
- Boy name: Santiago · Saint James
- Girl name: Maya · illusion
- Girl name: Liliana · lily
- Girl name: Lucia · light
Questions about the name California
What is the origin of the name California?
California has Spanish roots in our records. Other Spanish names include Mateo, Sofia, Elias.
Is California a boy or girl name?
Both. California is used for boys and girls.
How popular is the name California?
California is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #4,291 in 1918.