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Names that Peaked in 1989

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
  1. Nico

    • Origin:

      Italian diminutive of Nicholas, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"

    • Description:

      Nico is one of the great nickname names, full of charm, energy and effortless cool -- a neo Nick.
  2. Elliot

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Elias, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Yahweh is God"

    • Description:

      Elliot (which boasts several spellings depending upon how many 'l's or 't's you want to use) is a winner -- it has the ideal quality of being neither too common nor weirdly unique. Elliot had a style boost back in the early 1980s via the young hero of the movie E.T. , who was named Elliott. Since then there have been Elliots on Law & Order: SVU and Mad Men.
  3. Christopher

    • Origin:

      Greek and Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"

    • Description:

      Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos, referring to Christ, and phero, meaning "to bear."
  4. Michael

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "who is like God?"

    • Description:

      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.
  5. Cecily

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Cecil

    • Meaning:

      "blind"

    • Description:

      Cecily is as dainty as a lace handkerchief. Cecily has a wide assortment of namesakes. One Cecily was the mother of King Richard III, whose beauty gained her the title "the Rose of Raby," Cecily Parsley is a Beatrix Potter bunny, Cecily Cardew is a character in The Importance of Being Earnest, and the author of the Gossip Girl books is Cecily von Ziegesar.
  6. Asha

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit; Swahili

    • Meaning:

      "hope; life"

    • Description:

      Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for hope or desire, but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning life. Since the ascendance of Ashley through the 1980s and 90s, all baby names Ash-related have been used in the U.S. for both girls and boys, from Ashlyn to Ashby, Ashton to Asher. Despite its separate roots, Asha is part of this group.
  7. Lauren

    • Origin:

      English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"

    • Description:

      Lauren was derived from Laurence, an English name from the Roman family name Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum." Laurentum, an ancient Italian city, got its name from the Latin word laurus, meaning "bay laurel."
  8. Jessica

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "behold or wealthy"

    • Description:

      When Jennifer finally gave up her Number 1 place on the girls' popularity list, her crown was passed to Jessica, who reigned for not one but two decades. Jessica was the Number 1 name in both the mid-1980s and 1990s, never sounding quite as trendy as its predecessor, maybe because of its classic Shakespearean pedigree.
  9. Brittany

    • Origin:

      English name of the French region Bretagne, meaning 'from Briton'

    • Description:

      Brittany first arrived on the US popularity list in 1971, and rapidly zoomed up the charts, in the Top 100 a decade later. By 1986 it had entered the Top 10, becoming the third most popular girls’ name in the country by 1989.
  10. Erika

    • Origin:

      English and Scandinavian variation of Erica, Norse feminization of Eric or Italian word name

    • Meaning:

      "eternal ruler; heather"

    • Description:

      This is a more spunky and Nordic looking variant of Erica, but the k also makes the connection to the beautiful flower less apparent.
  11. Hakeem

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "judicious, wise"

    • Description:

      Muhammad approved all ninety-nine attributes of Allah as worthy names, and this is one of the most popular. It was in the US Top 1000 for the first time since 1998 in 2016, when it was one of the 10 fastest-rising boys' names. Perhaps the most well known person in America with the name is former Houston Rockets center and Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.
  12. Britney

    • Origin:

      Variation of Brittany, English

    • Meaning:

      "from Briton"

    • Description:

      This abbreviated spelling, which also relates to Whitney, quickly took on a life of its own, thanks to the megafame of Britney Spears, but it's already beginning to burn out.
  13. Kelsey

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "Cenel's island"

    • Description:

      Kelsey (ex-Frasier) Grammer is a famous male bearer, although most modern Kelseys are female. It derives from several English place names, possibly meaning "Cenel's island", from the Old English name Cenel "fierce".
  14. Leandra

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Leander, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lion-man"

    • Description:

      With the rise of many once-dated leonine names, from Leona to Lionel to Leonora, Leandra is an unusual choice that might be looking at a comeback..
  15. Leanna

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Liana; Combination of Lee and Anna

    • Description:

      A name that gained some currency through its rhyming relationship to Breanna, though it has been on a downward trend since 1989.
  16. Tawny

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "golden brown"

    • Description:

      Y-ending color adjectives like Tawny and Rusty are nowhere near as stylish as the more sophisticated Lilacs and Violets.
  17. Ashton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "ash tree place"

    • Description:

      Hot star Ashton Kutcher is pushing this unisex choice toward the boys' camp, but its variation Ashtyn is on the rise.
  18. Chantelle

    • Description:

      Chantelle is a feminine name of French origin, derived from 'chanter' meaning 'to sing.' This melodic name emerged as an elaboration of Chantal, which refers to a stone or rocky place in Old French. Chantelle gained significant popularity in English-speaking countries during the 1970s and 1980s, appreciated for its elegant French flair and musical quality. The name evokes images of sophistication and femininity, often associated with beauty and artistic expression. While its peak popularity has passed, Chantelle maintains a timeless appeal and continues to be chosen by parents drawn to names with French heritage. Its distinctive sound and spelling make it recognizable without being overly common, striking a balance between uniqueness and familiarity.

  19. Deangelo

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "from the angel"

    • Description:

      This name obviously has the prefix De- that denotes "son of"—in this form it can mean either "son of Angelo" or "from the angel."
  20. Alysia

    • Description:

      Alysia is a feminine name that represents a variation of Alicia, which itself derives from the Greek name Alice meaning 'noble' or 'of noble kind.' This elegant spelling variant emerged in the mid-20th century as parents sought more distinctive versions of classic names. The 'y' spelling gives the name a more exotic and visually appealing quality. Alysia experienced its peak popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s but has never been extremely common, maintaining a pleasant balance between familiarity and uniqueness. The name has a melodic, flowing quality when spoken, with its soft syllables creating a gentle rhythm. Alysia offers the nickname options of Aly, Lysi, or Sia, providing versatility for different stages of life.