’80s Names for Your Child

The prime child names of the Nineteen Eighties are, like, completely so nice! Whereas the “me” decade was all about extra, it was additionally house to some tremendous basic names for girls and boys…and a few that really feel extraordinarily ‘80s in hindsight. However hey, that’s a part of their appeal! 

Within the ‘80s, Michael, Christopher, Jessica, and Jennifer reigned as the highest first names for a technology of children; chances are high you most likely have a handful of these names in your telephone contact record proper now. A number of the prime names nonetheless sit in the preferred 20 in the present day, whereas others have fallen out of trend together with teased bangs and acid wash denim—though that doesn’t imply we’ll by no means see them make a comeback! 

Able to make a journey again in time to the ‘80s, no legwarmers or shoulder pads required? Beneath, try the highest child names of the Nineteen Eighties.

Fashionable ’80s Names for Boys

Michael

The Nineteen Eighties was an ideal decade for well-known Michaels, with stars like Michael J. Fox and Michael Jackson dominating TV screens and radio stations.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Present from God
• Various Spellings & Variations: Micheal, Mike, Mykal, Mikel
• Well-known Namesakes: Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Michael Caine, Michael J. Fox
• Peak Reputation: 1998
• Enjoyable Truth: Save for the yr 1960, Michael was the number-one title for child boys from 1954 to 1998.

Christopher

Christopher wouldn’t peak till the early ‘90s, however was an enormous title for little boys for a second decade in a row. 

• Origin: Greek
• Which means: Bearer of Christ
• Various Spellings & Variations: Kristofer, Kristoffer, Cristofer, Chris
• Well-known Namesakes: Christopher Plummer, Christopher Meloni, Christopher Walken, the Chrises 
• Peak Reputation: 1994

Matthew

One other holdover from the ‘70s, Matthew continued its reign within the ‘80s.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Present from God
• Various Spellings & Variations: Mathew, Matt
• Well-known Namesakes: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Broderick, Matthew Perry, Matt Damon, Matt LeBlanc
• Peak Reputation: 1996

Joshua

The ‘80s was house to a complete lotta Joshes and Joshuas.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: God is deliverance
• Various Spellings & Variations: Josh
• Well-known Namesakes: Josh Groban, Josh Brolin, Josh Duhamel, JC Chasez
• Peak Reputation: 2006

David

You most likely know quite a lot of Davids—what number of of them are Gen X or elder millennials?

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Beloved
• Various Spellings & Variations: Dave, Davey 
• Peak Reputation: 1960

James

James Spader was the final word ‘80s teen film unhealthy boy, stealing the present in his white go well with in Fairly in Pink.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Supplanter
• Various Spellings & Variations: Jamie, Jamey, Jaymes
• Well-known Namesakes: James Earl Jones, James Marsden, James Spader, James Dean
• Peak Reputation: 1952
• Enjoyable Truth: The title James hasn’t left the highest 20 hottest names since 1900.

Daniel

Whether or not they glided by Daniel, Dan, or Danny, Daniel was in good firm in the course of the ‘80s, but it surely didn’t peak till the 2000s! 

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: God is my choose
• Various Spellings & Variations: Dan, Danny
• Well-known Namesakes: Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Tiger
• Peak Reputation: 2008

Robert

Actor Robert Downey Jr. rose to fame within the ‘80s, together with a task within the movie adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s Much less Than Zero.

• Origin: German
• Which means: Vibrant fame
• Various Spellings & Variations: Rob, Robbie, Robby, Bob, Bobby, Roberto
• Well-known Namesakes: Robert Redford, Robert Kennedy, Robert Pattinson
• Peak Reputation: 1953

John

Due to actor Jon Cryer, technology after technology falls in love along with his iconic Fairly in Pink character Duckie.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: God is gracious
• Various Spellings & Variations: Johnny, Jon, Jonathan
• Peak Reputation: 1923

Joseph

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: He’ll add 
• Various Spellings & Variations: Josef, Jozef, Joe, Joey
• Well-known Namesakes: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Joe Jonas, Joey Lawrence
• Peak Reputation: 1917

Extra ’80s Names for Boys

• Jason: This Greek title, which implies “healer,” was within the prime 5 hottest names from 1973 to 1982, however has since departed the highest 50 record.
• Justin: The ‘80s gave rise to plenty of Justins, together with musician Justin Timberlake, who was born in 1981. 
• Andrew: This Greek title interprets to “sturdy” and “manly,” and may be shortened to Andy or Drew. Some of the well-known Andrews of the ‘80s was Andrew McCarthy, a member of the Brat Pack who appeared in John Hughes’s Fairly in Pink.
• Ryan: Ryan is now seen as a gender impartial title, however within the ‘80s, it was a prime 20 title for child boys. 
• William: Whether or not you’re William, Will, Billy, or Liam, this basic first title is flexible and timeless.
• Brian: Brian had a second all through the ‘70s and mid-’80s, however its use as a primary title dropped dramatically within the mid-2000s, and it doesn’t seem within the prime 100 names in the present day.
• Brandon: Brandon is one other fashionable ‘80s title at present experiencing a dip in reputation; it’s ranked outdoors the highest 200 names for boys.
• Jonathan: Although this title ranked within the prime 20 all through the ‘80s, it’s nonetheless fairly broadly used in the present day. In 2023, Jonathan was the 82nd hottest title for child boys within the U.S. 
• Nicholas: Nicholas ranked within the prime 25 boys names within the ‘80s, but it surely didn’t peak till 1999. Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys was born proper as the last decade started, in January 1980.
• Anthony: One other basic fave, Anthony continues to carry its spot within the prime 50 names.

Fashionable ’80s Names for Ladies

Jessica

You possibly can’t discuss ‘80s names with out mentioning Jessica, the queen bee title of the last decade. It continued its reputation properly into the ‘90s.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Imaginative and prescient, sight
• Various Spellings & Variations: Jessikah, Jessika, Jessie, Jess
• Well-known Namesakes: Jessica Lange, Jessica Alba, Jessica Chastain
• Peak Reputation: 1995
• Enjoyable Truth: Candy Valley Excessive’s twins had been named Jessica and Elizabeth, making them the right heroines of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Jennifer

After reigning because the number-one title via a lot of the ‘70s and ‘80s, Jennifer skilled a fairly sharp drop in reputation; as of 2022, it ranks outdoors the highest 500.

• Origin: Welsh
• Which means: Honest one
• Well-known Namesakes: Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston
• Peak Reputation: 1984
• Enjoyable Truth: Jennifer is a spinoff of Guinevere, a.okay.a. King Arthur’s queen.

Amanda

In 1986, the rock band Boston wrote an ode to this title with their hit music “Amanda.”

• Origin: Latin
• Which means: Loveable
• Various Spellings & Variations: Mandy, Mandi
• Well-known Namesakes: Amanda Seyfried, Amanda Bynes
• Peak Reputation: 1980

Ashley

Some of the well-known Ashleys, Ashley Olsen, was born in 1986, and would turn out to be an ‘80s and early ‘90s icon as Michelle Tanner in Full Home.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Ash tree meadow
• Various Spellings & Variations: Ashlie, Ashlee, Ashly 
• Well-known Namesakes: Ashley Olsen, Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Benson, Ashley Judd
• Peak Reputation: 1992

Sarah

Sarah is a permanent basic title alternative that hasn’t left the highest 100 names since 1900.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Princess
• Various Spellings & Variations: Sara
• Well-known Namesakes: Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Paulson, Sara Ramirez, Sarah McLachlan 
• Peak Reputation: 1993

Stephanie

Stephanie frolicked within the prime 20 names record for almost 30 years, beginning in 1969 and ending its reign in 1997.

• Origin: Greek
• Which means: Crown
• Various Spellings & Variations: Stefanie, Steph 
• Well-known Namesakes: Stephanie Tanner, Stephanie Seymour
• Peak Reputation: 1987

Melissa

Melissa kicked off the ‘80s with a powerful exhibiting because the second hottest title of the late ‘70s, but it surely dropped off the highest 100 record in 2005, although it continues to rank within the prime 500 names.

• Origin: Greek
• Which means: Honeybee
• Various Spellings & Variations: Missy, Mel
• Well-known Namesakes: Melissa Etheridge, Melissa McCarthy
• Peak Reputation: 1979
• Enjoyable Truth: Melissa can be an herb, generally known as lemon balm.

Nicole

Nicole and its many nicknames had a second within the ‘80s, and was additionally a preferred center title. It has since departed the highest 100 record fully.

• Origin: French, Greek
• Which means: Victory of the folks
• Various Spellings & Variations: Nichole, Nikole, Nikki, Nicky, Necole
• Well-known Namesakes: Nicole Ari Parker, Nicole Kidman
• Peak Reputation: 1982

Elizabeth

Ever a basic, Elizabeth is the sort of women’ title that actually by no means goes out of favor, and it held sturdy within the prime 10 record within the Nineteen Eighties.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Which means: Oath of God
• Various Spellings & Variations: Liz, Betsy, Beth, Eliza, Elisabeth, Libby
• Well-known Namesakes: Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Olsen
• Peak Reputation: 1905

Heather

There’s a purpose the film was known as Heathers; it was one of many largest, hottest names of the ‘80s. Nevertheless, it took a nosedive after the last decade and hasn’t ranked within the prime 500 names since 2009.

• Origin: British
• Which means: Evergreen flowering plant
• Well-known Namesakes: Heather Locklear 
• Peak Reputation: 1975
• Enjoyable Truth: Heather is a flowering shrub with fairly pink and purple flowers.

Extra ’80s Names for Ladies

Tiffany: “I Assume We’re Alone Now” singer Tiffany most likely contributed to the recognition of this primary title.

Michelle: Michelle, the female model of Michael, was a best choice all through the late ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, probably partly due to the Beatles music of the identical title.

Amber: The title Amber peaked in 1986 and has since dropped out of the highest 500. Nevertheless, as gemstone-inspired names like Ruby and Opal proceed to rise in reputation, Amber might make a comeback.

Megan: The title Megan peaked in 1994, just some years after the beginning of actress Megan Fox, who joined the world in 1986.

Amy : Amy’s reputation as a primary title peaked within the ‘70s, however continued trending all through the early ‘80s. It can be spelled Aimee or Amie.

Rachel: Rachel frolicked within the prime 20 names from 1983 till 2000, which is a fairly sturdy run! 

Kimberly: One Kimberly Noel Kardashian was born in 1980 — possibly you’ve heard of her?

Christina: Two very well-known Christinas, Aguilera and Milian, had been born within the early ‘80s. This basic first title can be shortened to Chris, Chrissy, and Tina. 

Lauren: Lauren actually fits the preppy vibes of the ‘80s, the last decade during which the Authentic Preppy Handbook was printed. The guide kickstarted a return to the prep aesthetic with all its tweeds and layers.

Crystal: Crystal made an look within the prime 20 record within the ‘80s, maybe partly due to Krystle Carrington on the massively fashionable Dynasty.