Whether it's a long-held family name, a biblical name, or a name that holds special meaning for mom or dad, choosing the moniker that your child will carry for life isn't something to take lightly. Over the years, certain names have peaked and then faded in popularity while others stayed at the top of the rankings for multiple decades. And while traditional and biblical names always seem to be in style, we've also seen some more uncommon names become trendy.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 80s in Iowa using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Many baby names are inspired by pop culture of the time, whether movies, music, or television. Others represent familial names or have other traditional significance. Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
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1 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 96 (#328 most common name, -93.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)
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2 / 30Jamie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "supplanter".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,412
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#820 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 96,557 (#34 most common name)
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3 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,419
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#921 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,617 (#31 most common name)
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4 / 30Andrea is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,481
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 125 (#268 most common name, -91.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 98,264 (#33 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
5 / 30Lindsey is a name of English origin meaning "Lincoln's marsh or island of linden trees".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,491
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1179 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 71,937 (#42 most common name)
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6 / 30Danielle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,555
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#480 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#24 most common name)
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7 / 30Tiffany is a name of Greek origin meaning "appearance of God".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,572
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#480 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 158,625 (#11 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
8 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,608
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 116 (#289 (tie) most common name, -92.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#22 most common name)
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9 / 30Samantha is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,623
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 209 (#156 most common name, -87.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 121,126 (#26 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
10 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,844
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#651 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)
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11 / 30Erin is a name of Irish origin meaning "peace".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,861
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#608 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 115,811 (#28 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
12 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,868
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#395 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#23 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
13 / 30Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,882
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#357 (tie) most common name, -95.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 116,594 (#27 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
14 / 30Katie is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,048
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#395 most common name, -96.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 72,873 (#41 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
15 / 30Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,105
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#301 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)
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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
16 / 30Sara is a derivation of the name Sarah, of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,277
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 116 (#289 (tie) most common name, -94.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 104,681 (#30 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
17 / 30Heather is a name of Scottish origin meaning "a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,628
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 116 (#289 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 191,854 (#10 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
18 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,642
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 751 (#16 most common name, -71.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
19 / 30Stephanie is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,670
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#713 (tie) most common name, -99.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)
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20 / 30Amber is a name of Persian origin meaning "ambergris", a fragrant material extracted from a type of whale.
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#792 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,951 (#13 most common name)
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21 / 30Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,724
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#363 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 150,659 (#15 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
22 / 30Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,923
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#443 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
23 / 30Emily is a name of Latin origin meaning "to strive".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,964
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 487 (#53 (tie) most common name, -83.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,770 (#25 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
24 / 30Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,115
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#451 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 30Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#783 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)
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26 / 30Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,343
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 208 (#157 (tie) most common name, -95.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
27 / 30Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,850
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 123 (#274 most common name, -97.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
28 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,594
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#451 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
29 / 30Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,637
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#651 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
30 / 30Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".
Iowa
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,836
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#539 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)
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