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 Rhode Island 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 / 30#30. Rachel
Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 441
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Christine
Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 447
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 68,015 (#44 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Katherine
Katherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 447
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#168 (tie) most common name, -90.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 99,176 (#31 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Megan
Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 460
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#168 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Courtney
Courtney is a name of French origin meaning "short nose".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 462
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#168 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 84,310 (#36 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Samantha
Samantha is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 490
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#99 (tie) most common name, -82.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 121,126 (#25 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Crystal
Crystal is a name of Latin origin meaning "Earth mineral".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 501
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#99 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,009 (#20 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Kelly
Kelly is a name of Irish origin meaning "bright-headed".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#99 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 109,540 (#28 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Christina
Christina is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#99 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,011 (#18 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Emily
Emily is a name of Latin origin meaning "to strive".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 529
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#22 most common name, -56.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,770 (#24 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Kayla
Kayla is a name of Irish origin meaning "slim and fair".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 537
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8 (#355 (tie) most common name, -98.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 55,170 (#53 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Michelle
Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 572
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#321 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Kimberly
Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 590
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#197 most common name, -94.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Laura
Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 591
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#197 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#22 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Kristen
Kristen is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 594
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#197 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 83,226 (#37 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Erin
Erin is a name of Irish origin meaning "peace".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 604
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#197 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 115,811 (#27 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 626
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#21 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Amy
Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 657
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#255 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 150,659 (#15 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Heather
Heather is a name of Scottish origin meaning "a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 696
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#255 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 191,854 (#10 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Danielle
Danielle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 709
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#255 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#23 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Lauren
Lauren is a name of Latin origin meaning "the bay or laurel plant".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 776
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#338 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 145,147 (#19 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 900
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name, -75.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Melissa
Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,064
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Stephanie
Stephanie is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,152
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Sarah
Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,196
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#116 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Nicole
Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,327
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#116 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Ashley
Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,360
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#154 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Amanda
Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,680
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#154 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Jennifer
Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#338 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. Jessica
Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,999
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 9 (#351 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)
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