1980s Names

  1. Steven
    • Origin:

      English variation of Stephen
    • Meaning:

      "garland, crown"
    • Description:

      Steven, the phonetic and now predominant spelling of the classier Stephen, has finally dropped out of the Top 100 after seventy years. Steve has become one of the ultimate regular-guy names, right up there with Dave and Joe. and there have been innumerable pop-culture role models among its bearers--from Steven Spielberg to Steven Soderbergh to Steve Jobs.
  2. Bradley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "wide meadow"
    • Description:

      An English surname name, Bradley has a long history, dating way back to at least 1086, but as a first name it actually succeeded in the US before it reached England--though Dickens used it in his novel Our Mutual Friend. Bradley Cooper is one namesake.
  3. Corey
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "from the hollow"
    • Description:

      Former teen idol name, now middle-aged. This name has been on a steady decline since the early-1990s.
  4. Sara
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "princess"
    • Description:

      Sara, the streamlined form of Sarah, makes this ancient name feel more modern, but perhaps a bit lighter weight.
  5. Bryan
    • Origin:

      Variation of Brian, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "strong, virtuous, and honorable"
    • Description:

      An alternate spelling of Brian, Bryan's one of the most enduring of Irish imports. Bryan is now slightly more popular than the original, with associations to Bryan Cranston, Bryan Ferry and Bryan Brown.
  6. 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.
  7. Lindsay
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "marshlands of Lincolnshire"
    • Description:

      In the early eighties, Lindsay, in tandem with Courtney, approached the Top 10.
  8. Shannon
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "old and wise"
    • Description:

      Irish place-name -- it's a river, a town, and an airport -- once popular but now supplanted by such newer immigrants as Saoirse and Seanan.
  9. Tiffany
    • Origin:

      English variation of Theophania, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "of divine manifestation"
    • Description:

      One of the first luxury brand names and the quintessential Booming Eighties status-conscious moniker; used by Donald Trump for his daughter, Tiffany has plummeted far from its high in the Top 25.
  10. Crystal
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "crystal, clear, ice"
    • Description:

      Peaking at #9 in 1982, Crystal's popularity in the 70s and 80s stems from its sparkling natural namesake and several notable bearers, like country music singer Crystal Gayle and Dynasty character Krystle Carrington. But it has since lost some of its luster for American parents, now ranking in the mid-600s. Ruby, Gemma and Pearl are fashionable alternatives, but nowadays Crystal could actually be a more unexpected choice for your little gem.
  11. Kathryn
    • Origin:

      English variation of Katherine, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      Although the Kathryn spelling feels like a modern streamlining of this ancient royal and saints' name, it is in fact found back through history. At least one of Henry the Eighth's unfortunately wives sometimes spelled her name as Kathryn.
  12. Kelly
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "war"
    • Description:

      Once the quintessential bouncy teenager name, Kelly helped launch the trend of unisex Irish names . But it now takes a backseat to more substantial surname names like Kennedy.
  13. Christine
    • Origin:

      French variation of Christina
    • Meaning:

      "Christian"
    • Description:

      Christine was the dominant feminine variation of Christopher forty or fifty years ago, when French E-endings were preferred over As; it was a Top 20 name for several years, from 1966 to 1974. But though it still hangs in on the popularity list, today most any other version would be considered more stylish, from Kristen to Kirsten to Christina herself.
  14. Brandon
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "broom-covered hill"
    • Description:

      Brandon, a forebear of the Braden-Caden pack, had a great run of popularity over several decades, being in the Top 10 from 1992 to 1998, one of its inspirations being hearthrob Brandon Walsh played by Jason Priestley on the original Beverly Hills 90210--and it was aso the name of several soap opera characters.
  15. Lindsey
    • Origin:

      English surname meaning "Marshlands of Lincolnshire"
    • Meaning:

      "Marshlands of Lincolnshire"
    • Description:

      Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the "ey" ending was usually reserved for women and the "ay" ending reserved for men, and that tradition has continued
  16. Juan
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Manx variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is gracious"
    • Description:

      Juan, the Spanish version of John, is ubiquitous in the Spanish-speaking world, and is familiar internationally via such references as Don Juan and San Juan.
  17. Shawn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Sean
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Shawn is a phonetic spelling of Sean that may be past its peak – it was a Top 30 name in the early 1970s – but is still quite popular for boys: over 500 baby boys were named Shawn in the US in the most recent year counted vs 800 given the original Sean spelling.
  18. Brett
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "from Brittany"
    • Description:

      Football great Brett Favre single-handedly kept this name in the limelight, though it continues to sink in popularity.
  19. Kristen
    • Origin:

      Danish and Norwegian variation of Christine
    • Meaning:

      "a Christian"
    • Description:

      Kristen may be somewhat past its fashion high point, but it remains forever crystalline clear. Possible problem: confusion with the similar Scandinavian names Kristin, Kirsten, Kirstie, et al.
  20. Jose
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Portuguese version of Joseph, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"
    • Description:

      Jose is as widespread in the Hispanic community as Joseph and Joe are elsewhere in the U.S., though its numbers here are starting to decrease somewhat. Jose is one of those Spanish baby names that has never crossed over into the Anglo naming culture.

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