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 Connecticut 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.
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Erica
Erica is a name of Norse origin meaning "eternal ruler".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,262
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1042 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 93,161 (#36 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
2 / 30#29. Christine
Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,368
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#816 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 68,015 (#45 most common name)
Matva // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Sara
Sara is a derivation of the name Sarah, of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,414
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 157 (#194 (tie) most common name, -88.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 104,681 (#30 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
4 / 30#27. Lisa
Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,491
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1042 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,617 (#31 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
5 / 30#26. Samantha
Samantha is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,540
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 425 (#61 most common name, -72.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 121,126 (#26 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
6 / 30#25. Kristen
Kristen is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,546
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 425 (#61 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 83,226 (#38 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
7 / 30#24. Erin
Erin is a name of Irish origin meaning "peace".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,713
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#398 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 115,811 (#28 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
8 / 30#23. Rachel
Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#280 most common name, -93.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
9 / 30#22. Megan
Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,773
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#599 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. Kimberly
Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,850
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#292 (tie) most common name, -94.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
11 / 30#20. Laura
Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,879
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 122 (#255 most common name, -93.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#23 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
12 / 30#19. Christina
Christina is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,952
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#410 (tie) most common name, -96.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,011 (#18 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Katherine
Katherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,958
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 239 (#122 most common name, -87.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 99,176 (#32 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Kelly
Kelly is a name of Irish origin meaning "bright-headed".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,963
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#475 (tie) most common name, -97.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 109,540 (#29 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. Amy
Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,020
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 152 (#199 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 150,659 (#15 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,048
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#304 (tie) most common name, -95.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#22 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Emily
Emily is a name of Latin origin meaning "to strive".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,080
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 898 (#14 most common name, -56.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,770 (#25 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Danielle
Danielle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,196
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#467 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#24 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. Michelle
Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,253
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#363 (tie) most common name, -96.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. Heather
Heather is a name of Scottish origin meaning "a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,254
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#363 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 191,854 (#10 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Lauren
Lauren is a name of Latin origin meaning "the bay or laurel plant".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,467
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#258 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 145,147 (#19 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
22 / 30#9. Stephanie
Stephanie is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,901
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 90 (#334 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 711 (#27 most common name, -77.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
24 / 30#7. Melissa
Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,441
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#329 most common name, -97.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. Ashley
Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,568
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 223 (#137 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Amanda
Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,655
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#441 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Nicole
Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,696
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 123 (#251 (tie) most common name, -96.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. Sarah
Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,090
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 365 (#73 most common name, -91.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Jennifer
Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,773
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#513 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
30 / 30#1. Jessica
Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,292
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#453 (tie) most common name, -99.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)