KANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR
Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary

August 19, 1998

Contact: Mike Heideman

785-296-1529

KDHE Releases Lists of 25 Most Popular Baby Names

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Center for Health and Environmental Statistics has published lists of the 25 most popular first names given to Kansas baby boys and girls in 1997.* The lists are obtained from birth certificate information which the Center keeps on file.

For boys, the names 'Jacob' and 'Austin' rank first and second respectively for the second year in a row. Girls' names saw changes in the top two spots, with 'Emily' rising from sixth last year to first this year, and 'Hannah' moving from fifth to second. Interestingly, 'Jordan' appears as a top 25 girls name this year, and is ranked 19^th for both boys and girls. This name was ranked 22^nd for boys last year.

To obtain a copy of your birth certificate or that of your child or spouse, you may send a written request to the Office of Vital Statistics. The fee for birth certificate copies is $10 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy within the same request.

In your request, state the name on the certificate, date of birth, place of birth, father's name, and mother's full name including maiden name. If you have the birthplace of the parents, race, sex or other information, include it since it may be helpful in locating the correct record, especially if the name on the record is a common name such as Smith, Jones, Wilson, etc.

Indicate if you would like a certified copy or a wallet-size birth registration card. The fee is the same for certified copies and/or wallet-size cards. The wallet-size cards provide the name at birth, date of birth, place of birth, and file date information. They do not provide parental information so if you require parental information, you must request certified copies.

Birth certificates are on file beginning July 1, 1911, with a few delayed birth certificates dating back to the 1860s (filing of delayed birth certificates started in 1940).

Requests should be directed to: Office of Vital Statistics, Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, Rm. 151, Topeka, KS 66612-2221. The office may be reached by phone at (785) 296-1400.

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* Note to reporters: The list of most popular names is attached.

Top 25 Names Given to Babies Born to Kansas Residents in 1997

(Alternate spellings of the same name are included in the counts.)

Source: KDHE Center for Health and Environmental Statistics,

Office of Health Assessment and Office of Vital Statistics

Back to 1998 KDHE News Release Index