Illinois Top Baby Names, Revealed

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, there are more than 430 babies born every day. When it comes to choosing your baby's name, some names rank higher than others. However, in Illinois, there are a few unique names that have joined the list. According to the (HSHS) Hospital Sisters Health System out of over 4,400 babies born at these hospitals, the following names were at the top for 2023.

1. St. John's Hospital, Springfield

• Boy Name: Hudson
• Girl Name: Aurora

2. St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham

• Boy Name: Oliver
• Girl Name: Harper

3. St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon

• Boy Name: Oliver
• Girl Name: Amelia

4. St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield

• Boy Name: Liam and Ryker (tied)
• Girl Name: Eleanor

5. St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese

• Wyatt 
• Ava 

Illinois Top 10 Baby Boy Names

Let's take a closer look at Illinois' 10 most popular baby boy names, how many times it was chosen, the meaning, and the personality traits behind each name.

Noah

Ranking 1^st the name Noah was chosen 696 times. It is of Hebrew origin and means “rest”. It is thought that those who have this name care a lot about the people they love. They are trustworthy, kind-hearted, reliable, and creative. Approximately 453,000 people in the United States have been given the name Noah since 1800. Furthermore, there have been about 5,000 people who have the name Noah as their surname in the United States since 2010.

Liam

2^nd is the name Liam being chosen 584 times. Liam is of Irish origin and means strong-willed warrior. People with the name Liam are brave, strong and enjoy being around others, and also like to be the life of the party. Approximately 274,000 people in the United States have been given the name Liam since 1800. Additionally, since 2010, 226 people have the name Liam as their surname.

Oliver

3^rd is Oliver being chosen 545 times. Oliver means “olive tree” and is of English origin. It is said that those with the name Oliver are good at comprehending, strong-willed, and kind. Additionally, since 1880, there have been 210,000 people with the name Oliver, and since 2010, 116,000 with Oliver as their surname in the United States.

Mateo

4^th is Mateo having been chosen 485 times. Mateo is of Spanish origin and means “Gift of God.” It is the Spanish form of Mathew. People with the name Mateo are said to be loyal and have a good sense of direction. Furthermore, the name can be shortened to Teo. Approximately 82,000 people in the United States have Mateo as their first name and since 2010 14,000 as their surname. Mateo is more of a unique name in Illinois as it was not predicted to be in the national top 10 list.

Theodore

5^th is Theodore chosen 470 times. This courageous name is of Greek origin and means “God's gift.” The name Theodore is related to leadership, compassion, and intelligence. People with this name are imaginative and affectionate. Additionally, since 1800 there have been 271,000 people named Theodore in the United States, and since 2010, 5,000 as their surname.

Benjamin

6^th is Benjamin being chosen 462 times. The name Benjamin means “Son of the right hand of god” and is of Hebrew origin it means the same in Arabic. However, it appears as “Binyaamem” which means “son of my days” in the Samaritan Pentateuch. Benjamin has ranked in the top 50 names for the past 5 years and continues to climb the ladder. Those with the name Benjamin are self-driven, focused, and work hard. Since 1880, there have been approximately 788,000 people named Benjamin in the United States, and 41,000 with it as their surname since 2010.  

Henry

7^th is Henry being chosen 450 times.  The name Henry is of German French roots. It comes from the Old French Henri. The Old Frankish name Heimeric is taken from the Common Germanic name Haimariks. Henry means “house ruler.” The name Henry was listed among the top 100 names in Wales, Australia, England, and the United States in 2007. It is suggested that if you have the name Henry, you are a generally happy person and feel self-sufficient. Furthermore, since 1800 there have been around 727,000 people named Henry in the United States and since 2010, 171,000 people have the surname Henry.

James

8^th is James being chosen 411 times. The name James originates from the word name Hebrew, Latin. It means supplanter “May God protect.” In the Bible St James was one of Jesus’ 12 apostles. Those with the name James are seen to be natural-born leaders, trustworthy and confident. Additionally, since 1800 there have been 5,200,000 people in the United States named James. To add since 2010, 249,000 people have the surname James.

William

9^th on the Illinois list for top baby boy names in 2023 is William being chosen 406 times. William is a powerful name for conquerors and kings. It means resolute protection, desire, and helmet and was first introduced in England in 1066 by Willam the Conqueror. People with the name William tend to have a strong-willed personality and are ambitious. Additionally, since the 1800’s there have been about 4,200,000 people in the United States named William. Furthermore, since 2010 there have been about 13,000 people with the name William as their surname.

Sebastian

The 10^th on the list is Sebastian with the name being chosen 399 times for the year 2023. The name Stabastion has been in the top 50 baby names list for the past five years. However, it has increased and made it to number ten in Illinois for the year 2023. The name originates from the beginning of third-century Rome. It means “revered” respected or admired. Furthermore, it derives from the Latin name Sebastianus, which means from Sebaste. In Turkey, Sebaste was a city and is now known as Sivas. There have been 183,000 people named Sebastian in the United States since the 1800s and since 2010, 14,000 people have the the name as their surname.

Illinois Top 10 Baby Girl Names

Let’s take a closer look at Illinois' top 10 baby girl names.

Olivia

Ranking 1^st is Olivia having been chosen 625 times during 2023. Oliva is of Latin origin like Oliver and means “olive tree.” It is a great sibling combination making it fit for parents who want to give their children similar names. Olivia is a name that shows strength, charm, and grace. People with the name Olivia are understanding, independent, and compassionate. Since 1800 there have been approximately 507,000 people in the United States named Olivia. Additionally, since 2010 there have been 608 people with the surname Olivia.

Sophia

2^nd is Sophia this name was chosen 509 times. It originates from Greece and means “wisdom.” The name became popular by St. Sophia and was honored by the Greek Orthodox Church. Furthermore, during the Middle Ages, it was endorsed by European royalty. Those with the name Sophia are considered to be wise, thoughtful, understanding, and intelligent. Moreover, there have been about 390,000 people named Sophia in the United States and since 2010, 180 people have the name Sophia as their surname.

Emma

3^rd on the list is Emma being chosen 509 times. Emma has become a popular name choice among parents. It is of German origin and means “whole or universe.” The name means “my God has answered” in Hebrew making it a perfect name to show your affection to your baby girl. Those with the name Emma have confidence and kindness and can motivate others. Additionally, since 1800 there were 723,000 people named Emma in the United States and 1,000 since 2010 with the surname Emma.

Charlotte

4^th is the name Charlotte being chosen 491 times. When hearing the name Charlotte you might think of the classic novel Charlotte’s Web or the famous wrestler Charlotte Flair. This name has become quite popular over the years and is of French origin, a feminine variant of Charles, and means “petite” or “free man.” This name became a favorite choice among queens, princesses, and duchesses. Those with the name Charlotte are said to be ambitious, creative, and independent. Furthermore, since 1800 there have been 402,000 people named Charlotte in the United States, and 126 people with the name Charlotte as their surname since 2010.

Amelia

5^th we have Amelia being chosen 446 times. The name might just remind you of the famous American aviator and writer Amelia Earhart she was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and wrote many novels about her flying experiences. According to Sky News pieces of the aviator’s twin-engine Lockheed 10-E Electra have been found. Isn’t this magnificent to discover her unsolved mystery after 87 years? The name Amelia originates from Latin which means “work or industriousness.” This is an ideal name for someone who has the passion to do their best in life. Since the 1800’s there have been roughly 231,000 people named Amelia in the United States and since 2010 there have been 176 people with the surname Amelia.

Mia

6^th is Mia, this sophisticated name was chosen 417 times. The name has been linked to both Spanish and Italian meaning “mine.” The name Mia holds a unique aura that includes self-confidence and independence. People with this name bask in being the center of attention and have a lovely sense of humor. Furthermore, since the 1800s in the United States, there have been 265,000 people named Mia, and since 2010, 632 people with the surname Mia.

Isabella

7^th on the list is Isabella being chosen 415 times. The name Isabella originated in Spain. It is the Italian and Spanish version of the name Elizabeth. In Hebrew, the name Elisheba means “devoted to  God.” This is a historical and majestic name should you consider naming your child Isabella.  People with the name Isabella are known to have strong intuition and artistic talents. Since 1880 there have been 11,000 people in the United States named Isabella.

Ava

8^th is Ava being chosen 398 times. It is unclear of the origins but could be Hebrew, German, or Latin. The name means “lively” or “birdlike.” Those named Ava are dedicated and have the will to provide for their family as well as the ambition to complete their goals. Since the 1800s there have been 307,000 people named Ava in the United States.

Camila

9^th is Camila with 354, this name peaked in 2021. It is a popular name in Egypt and boosted into the top 10 as 9^th in the United States during 2023. Camilia is of Arabic origin and, in Texas, it is not a very popular name. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration, there were only 6 babies in Texas named Camila in 2014.

Sofia

Finally, 10^th on the list is Sofia. This splendid name has Greek roots and means “wise”. Those with this name are shown to be compassionate and kind and befriend people. Since the 1800’s there have been 155,000 people named Sofia in the United States and 981 using it as their surname since 2010.

Finally

Each name is extraordinary and has a special meaning. Go with what your heart feels when naming your son or daughter. Everyone is unique and special in their own way. If you are looking for a school in Illinois maybe one of these 13 schools may be of interest to you.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Onjira Leibe/Shutterstock.com.