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 Kansas 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 Kansas.
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
1 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,700
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 189 (#207 most common name, -88.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 172,834 (#26 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
2 / 30Nathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "given".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 395 (#100 most common name, -77.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 105,994 (#39 most common name)
Fotonium // Shutterstock
3 / 30Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,752
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 451 (#83 (tie) most common name, -74.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 229,959 (#18 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 30Travis is a name of French origin meaning "to cross".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,755
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 78 (#420 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,925 (#42 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
5 / 30Tyler is a name of English origin meaning "doorkeeper of an inn" or "owner of a tavern".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,951
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 220 (#182 most common name, -88.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 86,435 (#47 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
6 / 30Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,004
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 101 (#344 most common name, -95.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,414 (#28 most common name)
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
7 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,086
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,386 (#5 most common name, -33.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 248,286 (#15 most common name)
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
8 / 30Dustin is a name of Norse origin meaning "brave warrior".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,087
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#600 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 97,308 (#44 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
9 / 30Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,090
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 174 (#230 (tie) most common name, -91.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 204,246 (#21 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
10 / 30Jacob is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "to follow".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,210
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 779 (#34 (tie) most common name, -64.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 124,263 (#35 most common name)
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
11 / 30Kyle is a name of Scottish origin meaning "narrow strait".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,293
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 83 (#404 (tie) most common name, -96.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,950 (#30 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
12 / 30Aaron is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "high mountain".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,338
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 387 (#103 most common name, -83.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 138,366 (#32 most common name)
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
13 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,351
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 101 (#344 most common name, -95.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 233,997 (#16 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
14 / 30Nicholas is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,406
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 297 (#137 most common name, -87.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 223,320 (#19 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
15 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 791 (#33 most common name, -67.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 299,416 (#10 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
16 / 30Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,483
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 293 (#141 (tie) most common name, -88.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 195,084 (#22 most common name)
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
17 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,602
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 398 (#99 most common name, -84.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,672 (#8 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
18 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,872
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 850 (#26 most common name, -70.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 345,559 (#7 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
19 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,943
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 835 (#27 most common name, -71.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,161 (#9 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
20 / 30Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,132
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 244 (#167 (tie) most common name, -92.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 292,130 (#11 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
21 / 30Brandon is a name of English origin meaning "beacon hill" or "crow".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,137
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#238 (tie) most common name, -94.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 232,206 (#17 most common name)
Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
22 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,322 (#6 most common name, -58.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 356,498 (#6 most common name)
Shutterstock
23 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,209
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 662 (#45 most common name, -79.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 383,702 (#5 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
24 / 30Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,582
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 564 (#55 most common name, -84.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 285,094 (#13 most common name)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
25 / 30Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,617
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 160 (#245 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 289,826 (#12 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
26 / 30Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,648
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 381 (#106 most common name, -89.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 278,954 (#14 most common name)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
27 / 30Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,264
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 499 (#67 most common name, -90.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 396,530 (#4 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
28 / 30Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,364
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#53 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 458,953 (#3 most common name)
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
29 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,498
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 466 (#79 (tie) most common name, -91.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 554,886 (#2 most common name)
Falcona // Shutterstock
30 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Kansas
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 825 (#28 most common name, -85.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 663,824 (#1 most common name)
