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
1 / 30Veronica 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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2 / 30Samantha 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)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
3 / 30Lisa 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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4 / 30Andrea 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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5 / 30Brittany 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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6 / 30Amy 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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7 / 30Rebecca 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)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
8 / 30Rachel 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)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
9 / 30Kimberly 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)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
10 / 30Lauren 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
11 / 30Megan 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)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
12 / 30Laura 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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Tiffany 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)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
14 / 30Danielle 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)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
15 / 30Crystal 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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16 / 30Amber 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)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
17 / 30Heather 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)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 30Vanessa 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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Maria 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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20 / 30Christina 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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21 / 30Michelle 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)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
22 / 30Elizabeth 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)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
23 / 30Stephanie 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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 30Nicole 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)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
25 / 30Melissa 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
26 / 30Sarah 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)
Bodler // Shutterstock
27 / 30Amanda 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)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
28 / 30Ashley 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)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
29 / 30Jennifer 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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30 / 30Jessica 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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