California
Multiple theories regarding the origin of the name California, as well as the root language of the term, have been proposed, but most historians believe the name likely originated from a Spanish 16th-century novel, Las sergas de Esplandián.
Meaning & Origin of California
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Multiple theories regarding the origin of the name California, as well as the root language of the term, have been proposed, but most historians believe the name likely originated from a Spanish 16th-century novel, Las sergas de Esplandián.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of California
California first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1918, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 16 Californias were born — ranking #7,731 that year. As of 2026, California ranks #15,243 for baby girls with 5 births, falling sharply (-56%). In total, more than 264 Californias have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like California
Phonetically similar names — useful when California is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Kalifornia
- Californio
- Californium
- Californias
- Californian
- Calfornia
- Californians
- Coliform
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about California
What does the name California mean?
How popular is California in 2026?
When was California most popular?
In which U.S. states is California most popular?
Is California a unisex name?
What names go well with California?
About the name California
California is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 264 births in the dataset. California's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #7,731. Use the chart and map above to compare California's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2007 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.