Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the 1990s (Canada)

In Canada, the most common baby girl names in the 1990s were Jessica, Sarah, Emily, Samantha, Stephanie — names chosen by more families than any others, ranked by total births.

This ranking is based on total births across the decade, which highlights names consistently chosen year after year — not just short-term spikes. See top girl names in the 2000s for the next decade.

Quick list of the most popular names

The most common baby girl names in the 1990s in Canada are listed below, based on total births across the decade.

How the ranking works

This ranking is based on total births for each name across all years in the decade. By aggregating data over a 10-year period, we highlight names with sustained popularity rather than short-term spikes. Names are ranked by total birth count, using national-level data only.

Key insights

Summary of the names with the highest total births:

Top name: Jessica with 30,614 births over the decade
#1 share of top 100: 4.4%
Gap #1 vs #10: 2.3x
Gap #1 vs #50: 5.7x
Top 10 share: 26.3% of births in the ranking
Total births in top 100: 697,577

Why these names were popular in the 1990s

Phonetics: Soft -a endings dominated — Jessica, Samantha, Alexandra and similar names. -a reads feminine and soft, fitting the era's taste.

-y and -ie endings also featured — playful, familiar, easy to pronounce.

Length: Longer names like Jessica and Samantha stayed in the top 10 — classic styles remained strong.

Familiarity and social acceptance: Parents chose widely recognized names — easy to spell and pronounce. Socially safe yet modern.

Broader cultural influence: Media and trends shaped tastes. Names in popular culture often gained traction.

The core set remained at the top: rankings shifted year to year, but the same names dominated the upper tier.

What were common baby names in the 1990s?

The most common baby girl names in the 1990s remained remarkably stable across the decade. While rankings shifted slightly year to year, a consistent group dominated the top positions. See top names in the following decade. For current trends, see fastest rising names; for unique picks, see rare baby names.

Popularity trend over the decade

Over the 1990s, the most popular names remained remarkably stable — the same core dominated the upper tier year after year. New entries emerged in the lower half of the top 100 as trends evolved, but the top 10–20 changed slowly. For how the subsequent decade shifted, see top names in the next decade.

Visual overview

Top 10 by births

Jessica

30,614 births

Sarah

25,534 births

Emily

19,003 births

Samantha

18,265 births

Stephanie

17,771 births

Ashley

15,674 births

Alexandra

15,664 births

Nicole

14,055 births

Amanda

13,504 births

Melissa

13,203 births

Total births in the 1990s

How the 1990s compare to other decades

The 1990s saw a shift toward simpler, shorter names and softer endings (-a, -y) — a move away from longer, more formal styles. Names became softer and more approachable than in earlier decades. The mix would shift again in the 2000s — a balance of classic and lighter, approachable choices.

How these names compare to today

Compared to today's trends, the 1990s list has aged in different ways. Some styles faded; others endured. For parents weighing a 1990s name today, those still ranking high recently are the safest bets. See trending baby names for what's rising now.

Full ranking

Full list of the top names in Canada for the 1990s.

#	Name	Births (1990s)
1	Jessica	30,614
2	Sarah	25,534
3	Emily	19,003
4	Samantha	18,265
5	Stephanie	17,771
6	Ashley	15,674
7	Alexandra	15,664
8	Nicole	14,055
9	Amanda	13,504
10	Melissa	13,203
11	Megan	12,961
12	Rebecca	12,079
13	Taylor	11,944
14	Jennifer	11,517
15	Brittany	11,184
16	Rachel	10,762
17	Kayla	10,145
18	Victoria	9,930
19	Catherine	9,914
20	Vanessa	9,122
21	Emma	8,973
22	Michelle	8,718
23	Sabrina	8,658
24	Danielle	8,615
25	Laura	8,327
26	Cassandra	7,663
27	Courtney	7,507
28	Lauren	7,488
29	Julia	7,459
30	Hannah	7,422
31	Alyssa	7,397
32	Audrey	7,124
33	Sara	7,031
34	Kelsey	6,940
35	Elizabeth	6,902
36	Gabrielle	6,812
37	Madison	6,757
38	Chelsea	6,690
39	Emilie	6,480
40	Katherine	6,369
41	Olivia	6,233
42	Jenna	6,047
43	Kaitlyn	5,835
44	Amy	5,777
45	Valerie	5,612
46	Natasha	5,563
47	Melanie	5,530
48	Camille	5,444
49	Marie	5,404
50	Christina	5,331
51	Erin	5,231
52	Sydney	5,207
53	Chloe	5,159
54	Julie	5,066
55	Amber	4,926
56	Jade	4,840
57	Maude	4,655
58	Andrea	4,653
59	Jasmine	4,650
60	Shelby	4,511
61	Morgan	4,438
62	Natalie	4,427
63	Brianna	4,328
64	Roxanne	4,325
65	Caroline	4,289
66	Laurence	4,284
67	Brooke	4,243
68	Amelie	4,229
69	Paige	4,120
70	Sophie	4,098
71	Alicia	4,096
72	Mackenzie	4,045
73	Shannon	4,030
74	Kristen	4,005
75	Christine	3,980
76	Katelyn	3,890
77	Kelly	3,871
78	Lindsay	3,834
79	Heather	3,771
80	Anna	3,619
81	Lisa	3,584
82	Marie-Pier	3,584
83	Allison	3,583
84	Baby	3,583
85	Caitlin	3,544
86	Maria	3,519
87	Tiffany	3,511
88	Kathleen	3,500
89	Kimberly	3,486
90	Justine	3,485
91	Marie-Eve	3,437
92	Meghan	3,414
93	Cynthia	3,361
94	Hailey	3,250
95	Erika	3,231
96	Mary	3,197
97	Isabelle	3,172
98	Noemie	3,156
99	Erica	3,106
100	Genevieve	3,101

Click any name above to explore its historical ranking, meaning, origin, regional variations, and full popularity timeline.

Interpretation for parents

Stable vs trendy: These names dominated year after year — time-tested, not one-hit wonders. Good for familiar, socially accepted choices.

Popularity vs uniqueness: Higher rank means more births. For something less common, look further down or check birth counts. National data can differ from your area.

How to choose: Top 10 = maximum familiarity. 20–50 = familiar but not overused. Below 50 = more distinctive. For uniqueness, consider trending or rare options. Explore baby names in the next decade, trending baby names, all-time popular names, rare baby names for more options.

About the data

Data from Statistics Canada. National totals only; no regional breakdown. We refresh as new data becomes available.