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Top names in the USA in the 1980s
The 50 most popular boy and girl names given in the United States from 1980 to 1989, according to the US Social Security Administration. Michael, Christopher, Jessica and Jennifer led the decade. 100 names so far, each with its own page, story and name art.
Aaron
may mean “meaning uncertain; often read as exalted”
Hebrew
Adam
may mean “man; or of the earth”
Hebrew
Alexander
“defender of people”
Greek
Alicia
“noble kind”
Germanic, via Latin
Allison
may mean “noble”
Germanic, via French and English
Amanda
“worthy of love”
Latin
Amber
“amber”
Arabic, via English
Amy
“beloved”
Latin, via French
Andrea
“manly, brave”
Greek
Andrew
“manly, brave”
Greek
Angela
“messenger, angel”
Greek, via Latin
Anthony
may mean “from the Roman family Antonius”
Latin
April
“the month of April”
Latin, via English
Ashley
“ash tree meadow”
Old English
Benjamin
“son of the right hand”
Hebrew
Brandon
“broom hill”
Old English
Brian
may mean “high, noble”
Irish
Brittany
“from Brittany”
English
Charles
“free man”
Germanic, via French
Christina
“follower of Christ”
Greek, via Latin
Christine
“follower of Christ”
Greek, via French
Christopher
“bearer of Christ”
Greek
Courtney
“from Courtenay”
French, via English
Crystal
“crystal”
Greek, via English
Daniel
“God is my judge”
Hebrew
Danielle
“God is my judge”
Hebrew, via French
David
“beloved”
Hebrew
Dustin
“Thor's stone”
Old Norse
Elizabeth
“my God is an oath”
Hebrew
Emily
“rival, eager”
Latin, via English
Eric
“ever ruler”
Old Norse
Erica
“ever ruler”
Old Norse
Erin
“Ireland”
Irish
Gregory
“watchful”
Greek, via Latin
Heather
“heather flower”
English
Jacob
“supplanter, held by the heel”
Hebrew
James
“supplanter”
Hebrew, via Latin
Jamie
“supplanter”
Hebrew, via Scots
Jason
“healer”
Greek
Jeffrey
may mean “peace”
Germanic, via French
Jennifer
may mean “fair, white”
Welsh, via Cornish and English
Jeremy
may mean “God will raise up”
Hebrew, via English
Jesse
“gift”
Hebrew
Jessica
may mean “God beholds”
Hebrew, via Shakespeare
John
“God is gracious”
Hebrew
Jonathan
“God has given”
Hebrew
Jose
“God will add”
Hebrew, via Spanish and Portuguese
Joseph
“God will add”
Hebrew
Joshua
“God is salvation”
Hebrew
Justin
“just, fair”
Latin
Katherine
may mean “pure”
Greek
Kathryn
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Greek
Katie
“pure”
Greek, via English
Kelly
may mean “bright-headed; or warrior”
Irish
Kenneth
may mean “born of fire; or handsome”
Scottish Gaelic
Kevin
“kind, gentle birth”
Irish
Kimberly
“Cyneburg's meadow”
Old English
Kristen
“follower of Christ”
Greek, via Scandinavian
Kristin
“follower of Christ”
Greek, via Norwegian
Kyle
“narrow strait”
Scottish Gaelic
Laura
“laurel”
Latin
Lauren
“laurel”
Latin, via English
Lindsay
“island of Lincoln”
Old English
Lindsey
“Lincoln's island”
Old English, via English
Lisa
“God is my oath”
Hebrew
Maria
may mean “beloved; or bitter sea”
Hebrew, via Greek and Latin
Mark
may mean “of Mars, the Roman god”
Latin
Mary
may mean “beloved; or bitter sea”
Hebrew, via Greek and Latin
Matthew
“gift of God”
Hebrew
Megan
“pearl”
Greek, via Welsh
Melissa
“honeybee”
Greek
Michael
“who is like God?”
Hebrew
Michelle
“who is like God?”
Hebrew, via French
Nathan
“he gave”
Hebrew
Nicholas
“victory of the people”
Greek
Nicole
“victory of the people”
Greek, via French
Patrick
“nobleman”
Latin
Paul
“small, humble”
Latin
Rachel
“ewe”
Hebrew
Rebecca
may mean “to tie, to bind”
Hebrew
Richard
“strong ruler”
Germanic
Robert
“bright fame”
Germanic
Ryan
may mean “little king”
Irish
Samantha
Read its story
English, possibly from Hebrew
Sara
“princess”
Hebrew
Sarah
“princess”
Hebrew
Scott
“a Scot”
Old English
Sean
“God is gracious”
Irish, from Hebrew
Shannon
may mean “old river”
Irish
Stephanie
“crown, garland”
Greek, via French
Stephen
“crown, wreath”
Greek
Steven
“crown, wreath”
Greek, via English
Thomas
“twin”
Aramaic, via Greek
Tiffany
“appearance of God, Epiphany”
Greek, via French
Timothy
“honouring God”
Greek
Travis
“toll collector”
Old French, via English
Tyler
“tile maker”
Old English
Vanessa
“invented by Jonathan Swift”
English
William
“resolute protector”
Germanic
Zachary
“God has remembered”
Hebrew