Most Popular Baby Names Of The 1980s

The top 100 girls’ and boys’ names across 1980–1989. Explore their meanings, histories, and popularity today.

Name & meaning	Babies 2025 · rank	5-year rank movement	Peak year
Andrea Manly, from the Greek Andrew family	1,317#235	Down 86 rank positions in five years	1981
Megan Pearl, through Margaret	301#889	Down 249 rank positions in five years	1990
Austin Exalted; venerable through Augustine	3,103#113	Down 25 rank positions in five years	1995
Keith Possibly wood; Scottish estate-name surname	311#801	Down 203 rank positions in five years	1957
Sara Lady; princess, through Sarah	1,568#198	Down 15 rank positions in five years	1981
Jesse Possibly gift or existence; Hebrew Yishai name family	2,002#184	Up 19 rank positions in five years	1981
Jacqueline Traditionally supplanter or heel-holder, in the Jacques and Jacob family	541#558	Down 115 rank positions in five years	1964
Sean God is gracious	616#489	Down 155 rank positions in five years	1990
Jordan Descend; flow down, from the River Jordan	2,732#131	Down 49 rank positions in five years	1990
Gabriel God is my strong man	6,569#37	Up 1 rank positions in five years	2008
Bryan Meaning uncertain; Brian name family	1,005#336	Down 77 rank positions in five years	1985
Natalie Birth or birthday; traditionally associated with Christmas	2,736#89	Down 38 rank positions in five years	2006
Amber Amber gemstone or color; sky in the Hindi name tradition	576#520	Down 10 rank positions in five years	1986
Danielle God is my judge, through Daniel	550#549	Down 101 rank positions in five years	1987
Diana Divine; goddesslike	1,277#244	Up 1 rank positions in five years	1957
Juan God is gracious in Spanish and Manx; beautiful or graceful for Chinese 娟	2,318#159	Down 14 rank positions in five years	2005
Vincent To conquer; conquering	3,267#107	Up 14 rank positions in five years	1962
Brittany From Brittany, the French region named for the Britons	281#928	Up 33 rank positions in five years	1989
Kayla Combination of the name sounds kay and la	838#364	Down 148 rank positions in five years	1991
Philip Friend of horses	568#528	Down 75 rank positions in five years	1953
Tiffany Manifestation of God, through Theophania	304#880	Down 86 rank positions in five years	1988
Crystal Crystal; English word ultimately from Greek ice	202#1,145	Down 288 rank positions in five years	1982
Victor Conqueror	1,664#211	Down 11 rank positions in five years	1990
Allison Nobility through Alison; alternatively son of Alan or Alexander	2,564#103	Down 23 rank positions in five years	1994
Erin Ireland	327#833	Down 312 rank positions in five years	1983
Alyssa Nobility, through Alicia; spelling probably influenced by alyssum	680#453	Down 254 rank positions in five years	1999
Bradley Broad clearing	794#403	Down 130 rank positions in five years	1980
Phillip Friend of horses, through Philip	425#651	Down 132 rank positions in five years	1960
Travis Crossing; from a surname associated with a bridge or ford	732#434	Down 96 rank positions in five years	1989
Carlos Man, through Charles	2,418#150	Down 1 rank positions in five years	2001
Shawn God is gracious	399#682	Down 230 rank positions in five years	1971
Craig Crag, rocks, outcrop	102#1,644	Down 399 rank positions in five years	1960
Shannon Shannon river name; possibly connected with old or ancient	75#2,405	Down 449 rank positions in five years	1970
Luis Famous in battle, through Louis	2,475#144	Down 7 rank positions in five years	2007
Cody Descendant of the helpful one; alternatively son of Odo	1,076#318	Down 21 rank positions in five years	1992
Evan God is gracious	2,412#153	Down 48 rank positions in five years	2007
Nathaniel God has given	2,565#140	Down 15 rank positions in five years	2002
Alex Defender of men, through Alexander	1,515#232	Down 49 rank positions in five years	1993
Todd Fox	105#1,618	Down 205 rank positions in five years	1964
Joel Yahweh (is) God	1,633#219	Down 12 rank positions in five years	1985
Valerie To be healthy, strong, through Valeria	2,221#127	Up 17 rank positions in five years	1959
Jamie Traditionally heel-holder or supplanter, through James	316#858	Down 149 rank positions in five years	1977
Leslie Probably garden of holly	393#712	Down 116 rank positions in five years	1957
Carrie Man, through Caroline	63#2,726	Down 551 rank positions in five years	1977
Antonio From the Antonius family; deeper meaning unknown	2,058#176	Up 4 rank positions in five years	1997
Melanie Black, dark	2,074#142	Down 37 rank positions in five years	1972
Vanessa Literary coinage from Esther Vanhomrigh’s name	813#377	Down 168 rank positions in five years	1985
Jasmine Jasmine flower	1,481#206	Down 66 rank positions in five years	1993
Courtney Courtenay place name, linked with short; alternatively short nose	78#2,335	Down 943 rank positions in five years	1990
Ian Yahweh is gracious, through John	3,924#83	Steady	2005

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Year by year in the 1980s

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

This list includes the top 100 girls’ and boys’ names by total use across 1980–1989. Table birth counts and ranks show 2025, and rank movement covers the latest five years. Search, filters, and sorting stay within this decade’s name list.

Counts are based on U.S. births and are tracked separately for girls and boys. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year aren’t published for that year, so totals here are a floor — the shortfall is largest in the sparse early years.