Most popular boy names in the 80s in South Carolina

Written by:
March 19, 2026
Irisska // Shutterstock

Most popular boy names in the 80s in South Carolina

Known for the emergence of MTV, the rise of neon, and the invention of the mixtape, the 1980s were certainly a rockin' era in American history. New economic policies were introduced, the news network CNN launched, and, much less enjoyable, Wall Street crashed on the infamous Black Monday—the worst one-day decline in American stock market history. Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated by President Ronald Reagan as the first female Supreme Court justice, the Cold War saw the beginning of the end as the Berlin Wall began to fall, and millions watched in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on live television.

Among all the big hair, Rubix cubes, and shoulder pads, however, there were still plenty of babies being born during this defining time. And with celebrities like Michael J. Fox and Robert Palmer reaching their peak fame during the '80s, it's no surprise that many parents chose to name their kids after them.

To see just how popular these names were, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the 80s in South Carolina using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.

Just like scrunchies and PAC MAN, Americans can still hold onto some of the best aspects of the '80s, including baby names (some things never get old). So whether you're welcoming a new little one into the world this year or just curious, these are the most popular baby names of the 1980s in South Carolina.

1 / 30
FamVeld // Shutterstock

#30. Adam

Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 343 (#162 most common name, -78.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 195,084 (#22 most common name)

2 / 30
Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#29. Benjamin

Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,411 (#15 most common name, -15.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,385 (#31 most common name)

3 / 30
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock

#28. Steven

Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,861
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 234 (#219 most common name, -87.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,470 (#25 most common name)

4 / 30
FamVeld // Shutterstock

#27. Eric

Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,944
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 275 (#190 most common name, -85.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 204,246 (#21 most common name)

5 / 30
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock

#26. Jeremy

Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,981
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 213 (#237 most common name, -89.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,414 (#28 most common name)

6 / 30
Fotonium // Shutterstock

#25. Ryan

Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,028
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#95 most common name, -71.8% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 278,954 (#14 most common name)

7 / 30
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#24. Anthony

Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,170
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 753 (#65 (tie) most common name, -65.3% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 211,870 (#20 most common name)

8 / 30
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#23. Richard

Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,226
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 353 (#158 most common name, -84.1% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,750 (#27 most common name)

9 / 30
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#22. Kevin

Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,256
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 353 (#158 most common name, -84.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 188,685 (#23 most common name)

10 / 30
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock

#21. Brian

Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,315
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 203 (#250 most common name, -91.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 233,997 (#16 most common name)

11 / 30
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

#20. Timothy

Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,456
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#126 most common name, -82.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 172,834 (#26 most common name)

12 / 30
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#19. Andrew

Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 874 (#50 most common name, -65.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 285,094 (#13 most common name)

13 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Travis

Travis is a name of French origin meaning "to cross".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,624
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#256 (tie) most common name, -92.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,925 (#42 most common name)

14 / 30
My Good Images // Shutterstock

#17. Thomas

Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,390 (#16 most common name, -48.5% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,817 (#24 most common name)

15 / 30
Shutterstock

#16. Charles

Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,875
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,324 (#19 most common name, -53.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,905 (#33 most common name)

16 / 30
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#15. Daniel

Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,130
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,234 (#24 most common name, -60.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 345,559 (#7 most common name)

17 / 30
MIA Studio // Shutterstock

#14. Joseph

Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,231 (#25 most common name, -63.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 299,416 (#10 most common name)

18 / 30
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#13. Jonathan

Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,644
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 745 (#68 (tie) most common name, -79.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 229,959 (#18 most common name)

19 / 30
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#12. Jason

Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,671
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 387 (#143 (tie) most common name, -89.5% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 292,130 (#11 most common name)

20 / 30
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

#11. Justin

Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 380 (#148 (tie) most common name, -90.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 289,826 (#12 most common name)

21 / 30
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock

#10. Brandon

Brandon is a name of English origin meaning "beacon hill" or "crow".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,206
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 414 (#132 most common name, -90.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 232,206 (#17 most common name)

22 / 30
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#9. David

David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,472
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,193 (#28 most common name, -73.3% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 383,702 (#5 most common name)

23 / 30
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

#8. Matthew

Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,629
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,007 (#42 most common name, -78.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 458,953 (#3 most common name)

24 / 30
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

#7. Robert

Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,655
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 979 (#45 most common name, -79.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,672 (#8 most common name)

25 / 30
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

#6. John

John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,849
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,012 (#6 most common name, -58.5% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,161 (#9 most common name)

26 / 30
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#5. Joshua

Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,703
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,071 (#36 most common name, -81.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 396,530 (#4 most common name)

27 / 30
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock

#4. William

William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,767
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,052 (#1 most common name, -47.1% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 248,286 (#15 most common name)

28 / 30
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock

#3. James

James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,069
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,597 (#3 most common name, -63.3% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 356,498 (#6 most common name)

29 / 30
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

#2. Michael

Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,267
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,538 (#10 most common name, -78.8% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 663,824 (#1 most common name)

30 / 30
Capable97 // Shutterstock

#1. Christopher

Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 8,315
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,206 (#27 most common name, -85.5% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 554,886 (#2 most common name)

Trending Now