CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free, searchable access to the California Birth Index — a public dataset of over 24 million birth records from the state of California, covering every registered birth from 1905 through 1995.
What Is the California Birth Index?
The California Birth Index is a public record compiled by the California Office of Health Information and Research (now part of the California Department of Public Health). It contains basic identifying information for every birth registered in the state during the 1905-1995 period:
— Full name at birth
— Date of birth
— County of birth
— Gender
— Mother's maiden name
The index does not include time of birth, hospital name, parents' first names, or other details found on a certified birth certificate. For that information, see how to get a certified birth certificate.
Why This Site Exists
The California Birth Index is public data, but it hasn't always been easy to access. CaliforniaBirthIndex.org makes it freely searchable — no account, no subscription, no paywall. You can search by name, browse by letter, search by parents' last names, or explore county-level data.
The site is used by genealogists researching family history, adoptees searching for birth families, and anyone curious about California birth records.
How the Data Works
Every record on this site comes directly from the California Birth Index dataset. We don't modify, supplement, or editorialize the data. What you see is what the state recorded at the time of birth registration.
Our Advanced Search lets you search by father's last name and mother's maiden name, which is especially useful for finding siblings and building family groups. Individual record pages also show potential siblings — other births with the same parent name combination.
We also cross-reference our records with CaliforniaDeathRecords.com, our sister site covering California death records from 1940-1997. When a matching death record exists, we link to it directly from the birth record page.
Who Runs This Site
CaliforniaBirthIndex.org is an independent project. It is not affiliated with the California Department of Public Health, any county government, or any commercial genealogy service.
Privacy and Removals
All data on this site is public record. However, we understand that some people prefer not to have their birth information indexed online. If you'd like your record removed, see our removal request page.
