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 New Jersey 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 / 30Jamie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "supplanter".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,647
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 151 (#517 most common name, -94.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 96,557 (#34 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
2 / 30Brittany is a name of French origin meaning "from Briton".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,702
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 176 (#459 (tie) most common name, -93.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 140,812 (#21 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 30Katherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,010
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 529 (#142 most common name, -82.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 99,176 (#32 most common name)
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4 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,291
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#176 (tie) most common name, -86.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#22 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
5 / 30Tiffany is a name of Greek origin meaning "appearance of God".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,292
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#613 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 158,625 (#11 most common name)
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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
6 / 30Kristen is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,323
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#1148 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 83,226 (#38 most common name)
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7 / 30Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,411
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 605 (#123 most common name, -82.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 150,659 (#15 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
8 / 30Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,440
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,287 (#48 most common name, -62.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
9 / 30Erin is a name of Irish origin meaning "peace".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,611
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 189 (#431 (tie) most common name, -94.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 115,811 (#28 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
10 / 30Samantha is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,785
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,323 (#47 most common name, -65.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 121,126 (#26 most common name)
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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
11 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,846
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 68,015 (#45 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,947
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#1082 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,617 (#31 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
13 / 30Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,969
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 151 (#517 most common name, -96.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
14 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,238
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#320 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#23 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
15 / 30Heather is a name of Scottish origin meaning "a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,318
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#1264 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 191,854 (#10 most common name)
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16 / 30Kelly is a name of Irish origin meaning "bright-headed".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,395
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#418 (tie) most common name, -95.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 109,540 (#29 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
17 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,555
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 482 (#156 most common name, -89.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
18 / 30Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,840
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,831 (#25 most common name, -62.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
19 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,847
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,554 (#38 most common name, -67.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)
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20 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,048
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 435 (#184 (tie) most common name, -91.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)
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21 / 30Christina is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,147
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 179 (#453 most common name, -96.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,011 (#18 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
22 / 30Danielle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,146
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 181 (#448 most common name, -97.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#24 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
23 / 30Stephanie is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,641
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 293 (#284 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
24 / 30Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,855
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 981 (#70 most common name, -85.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
25 / 30Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,522
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 247 (#337 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)
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Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
26 / 30Lauren is a name of Latin origin meaning "the bay or laurel plant".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 301 (#276 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 145,147 (#19 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
27 / 30Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,921
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 291 (#289 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
28 / 30Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 9,153
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 465 (#160 most common name, -94.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
29 / 30Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 13,439
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#331 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
30 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 13,712
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#356 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)
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