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 Illinois 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 / 30Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,554
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 451 (#255 most common name, -91.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 116,594 (#27 most common name)
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2 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,565
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#1285 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,617 (#31 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
3 / 30Katherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,702
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 789 (#134 most common name, -86.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 99,176 (#32 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
4 / 30Amber is a name of Persian origin meaning "ambergris", a fragrant material extracted from a type of whale.
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,779
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 214 (#529 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,951 (#13 most common name)
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5 / 30Erin is a name of Irish origin meaning "peace".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#495 (tie) most common name, -96.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 115,811 (#28 most common name)
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FreelySky // Shutterstock
6 / 30Danielle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 323 (#358 most common name, -94.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#24 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
7 / 30Brittany is a name of French origin meaning "from Briton".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,318
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#826 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 140,812 (#21 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
8 / 30Emily is a name of Latin origin meaning "to strive".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,358
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,205 (#11 most common name, -49.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,770 (#25 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
9 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,396
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 595 (#179 most common name, -90.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
10 / 30Kelly is a name of Irish origin meaning "bright-headed".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,484
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 167 (#637 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 109,540 (#29 most common name)
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javi_indy // Shutterstock
11 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 364 (#324 most common name, -94.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#22 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30Samantha is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,550
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,395 (#64 most common name, -78.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 121,126 (#26 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
13 / 30Christina is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,568
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 266 (#426 (tie) most common name, -96.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,011 (#18 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
14 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,985
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 285 (#396 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#23 most common name)
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15 / 30Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,042
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 340 (#336 (tie) most common name, -95.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 30Tiffany is a name of Greek origin meaning "appearance of God".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,407
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#794 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 158,625 (#11 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
17 / 30Heather is a name of Scottish origin meaning "a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,463
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#1395 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 191,854 (#10 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
18 / 30Lauren is a name of Latin origin meaning "the bay or laurel plant".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,480
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 445 (#259 most common name, -94.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 145,147 (#19 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
19 / 30Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,693
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 434 (#268 most common name, -94.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 150,659 (#15 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
20 / 30Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 8,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 187 (#583 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)
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Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
21 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 8,602
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 488 (#231 most common name, -94.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
22 / 30Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 10,434
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 433 (#270 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
23 / 30Stephanie is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 10,440
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 397 (#295 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
24 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,265
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,735 (#15 most common name, -75.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 30Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 12,348
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 708 (#150 most common name, -94.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)
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26 / 30Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 13,201
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 996 (#105 (tie) most common name, -92.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
27 / 30Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,590
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 636 (#170 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
28 / 30Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 15,941
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 215 (#525 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
29 / 30Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 19,158
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 372 (#317 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
30 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
Illinois
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 21,382
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 272 (#417 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)
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