Names that Peaked in 1984
Across 3 pages
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About this list
The names
Michael
Hebrew
"who is like God?"
Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names , it's still widely used. How has Michael racked up this phenomenal…
Christopher
Greek and Latin
"bearer of Christ"
Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos , referring to Christ, and phero , meaning "to bear." The name was originally used figuratively, to…
Adam
Hebrew
"son of the red earth"
Adam -- a primal Old Testament name -- was revived as a 1960s cowboy name. Adam is not as popular as it once was and feels ready for a respite, replaced by newer A names like Aidan/Aiden, Avery and…
Marcus
Latin
"warlike"
Though ancient, Marcus now sounds more current than Mark, in tune with today's trend towards us-ending Latinate names. Marcus, which is thought to be related to Mars, the god of war, was commonplace…
Joanna
Variation of Johanna
"God is gracious"
Joanna derives from the Greek name Ioanna, which in turn came from the Hebrew name Yohannah. It is featured in the New Testament as a woman who accompanied Jesus on his travels and eventually reached…
Andre
French and Portuguese variation of Andrew
"strong and manly"
Andre is one of the international forms of Andrew that has been familiar in the English-speaking world for decades without any need to be overly Anglicized - though round the world, it is more likely…
Alicia
Spanish variation of Alice
"noble"
Alicia is a Latinized variation of Alice, a name ultimately derived from the German Adalhaidis. It emerged in the 19th century, but the 20th saw many spelling evolutions for Alicia, including Alecia,…
Tyson
English
"firebrand"
As parents were finding too many Tylers at the neighborhood playground, they began looking to Tyson as an alternative, no longer concerned with possible connections to Mike Tyson or Tyson chicken.
Stephanie
Feminine variation of Stephen, Greek
"garland, crown"
Stephanie is the feminine form of Stephen, derived from the Greek name Stephanos, associated with crowns and garlands It's been the name of several royal women throughout history, including the…
Jennifer
Cornish variation of Guinevere, Welsh
"white shadow, white wave"
Jennifer is the Cornish variation of Guinevere, which ultimately derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. As such, it is connected to the queen of Arthurian legend, and sharees the same meaning of…
Dustin
Norse
"brave warrior, or Thor's stone"
Dustin's popularity in recent years has probably had more due to its similarity to Justin than to idolization of Dustin Hoffman -- himself named after silent screen cowboy star Dustin Farnum -- who…
Lacey
English
"from Lassy"
A unique combination of a surname feel and dainty femininity, Lacey is a favorite in the UK where it ranks in the Top 500. Likely derived from the name of a place in Normandy, it might occasionally…
Grisel
Grisel is a feminine name with medieval European origins, derived from the Middle English 'gris' meaning 'grey.' It's a variant of Griselda, a name made famous through Boccaccio's 'Decameron' and…
Sheena
Anglicization of Sine; Irish variation of Jane
"God is gracious"
Animated Gaelic name popularized by singer Sheena Easton, also brings to mind Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, the Amazonian comic book and TV series heroine. Sine is considered to be and English…
Trista
Feminine variation of Tristan
"noise or sorrowful"
This female form of Tristan was featured on the reality-television show The Bachelorette, and has been rocketing up the charts as a new millennium Trisha.
Kacie
English variation of Casey, Irish
"brave in battle"
A respelling of Casey, with a slightly softer look and a hint of classic Katie about it. It ranked in the US Top 1000 in the 80s and 80s, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Less popular than it once…
Lindsay
English surname
"marshlands of Lincolnshire"
In the early eighties, Lindsay, in tandem with Courtney, approached the Top 10. Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the ey…
Candis
Candis is a feminine name that serves as a variant spelling of Candice or Candace. It derives from an ancient Ethiopian royal title 'Kandake,' meaning 'queen mother' or 'queen regent,' which appears…
Shenna
Invented name, meaning unknown
Strange amalgam with little appeal.
Teela
Teela is a feminine name with diverse origins. Some sources link it to the Germanic name Thila, meaning 'mighty' or 'strong,' while others suggest it may be a variant of Tila or a shortened form of…
