Most popular girl names in the 80s in California

Written by:
Stacker
March 23, 2026
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 80s in California

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 California 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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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#30. Veronica

Veronica is a name of Latin origin meaning "she who brings victory".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,412
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 926 (#399 most common name, -91.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 39,074 (#70 most common name)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#29. Samantha

Samantha is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,670
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7,002 (#32 most common name, -40.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 121,126 (#26 most common name)

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Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock

#28. Lisa

Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,754
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 508 (#687 most common name, -95.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,617 (#31 most common name)

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ucchie79 // Shutterstock

#27. Andrea

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

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,971
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,166 (#75 most common name, -65.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 98,264 (#33 most common name)

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Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock

#26. Brittany

Brittany is a name of French origin meaning "from Briton".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 12,217
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 484 (#709 (tie) most common name, -96.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 140,812 (#21 most common name)

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Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

#25. Amy

Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 12,431
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,937 (#115 most common name, -76.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 150,659 (#15 most common name)

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riggleton // Shutterstock

#24. Rebecca

Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 13,237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,556 (#230 most common name, -88.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#22 most common name)

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Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock

#23. Rachel

Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 13,630
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,353 (#272 most common name, -90.1% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#22. Kimberly

Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,082
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,488 (#91 most common name, -75.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)

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Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock

#21. Lauren

Lauren is a name of Latin origin meaning "the bay or laurel plant".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,368
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,501 (#242 most common name, -89.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 145,147 (#19 most common name)

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Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock

#20. Megan

Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,398
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 766 (#486 (tie) most common name, -94.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)

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Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

#19. Laura

Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,411
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 929 (#397 (tie) most common name, -93.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#23 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Tiffany

Tiffany is a name of Greek origin meaning "appearance of God".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,730
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 949 (#392 most common name, -93.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 158,625 (#11 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#17. Danielle

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

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,993
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 997 (#367 most common name, -93.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#24 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#16. Crystal

Crystal is a name of Latin origin meaning "Earth mineral".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 15,678
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 693 (#534 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,009 (#20 most common name)

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Matva // Shutterstock

#15. Amber

Amber is a name of Persian origin meaning "ambergris", a fragrant material extracted from a type of whale.

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 15,715
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,306 (#281 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,951 (#13 most common name)

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Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock

#14. Heather

Heather is a name of Scottish origin meaning "a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 17,184
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 235 (#1195 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 191,854 (#10 most common name)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#13. Vanessa

Vanessa is a name of Greek origin meaning "butterfly".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 18,231
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,326 (#147 most common name, -87.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 65,709 (#48 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#12. Maria

Maria is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "sea of bitterness".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 18,423
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,875 (#84 most common name, -79.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 65,759 (#47 most common name)

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#11. Christina

Christina is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 22,007
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#455 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,011 (#18 most common name)

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Durganand // Shutterstock

#10. Michelle

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

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 22,805
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,333 (#145 most common name, -89.8% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#9. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 24,576
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8,107 (#23 most common name, -67.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#8. Stephanie

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

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 25,404
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,865 (#187 most common name, -92.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#7. Nicole

Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 25,576
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,658 (#130 most common name, -89.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)

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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#6. Melissa

Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 26,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,283 (#149 most common name, -91.3% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#5. Sarah

Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 27,706
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,678 (#86 most common name, -86.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)

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Bodler // Shutterstock

#4. Amanda

Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 28,944
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,286 (#289 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)

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Studio Romantic // Shutterstock

#3. Ashley

Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 29,570
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,513 (#89 most common name, -88.1% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#2. Jennifer

Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 49,366
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,536 (#239 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)

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DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#1. Jessica

Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".

California
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 51,826
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,875 (#186 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)

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