Most popular boy names in the 80s in New Jersey

Written by:
March 19, 2026
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Most popular boy names in the 80s in New Jersey

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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.

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noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock

#30. Adam

Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,962
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,689 (#50 most common name, -57.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 195,084 (#22 most common name)

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#29. Stephen

Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,197
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 357 (#255 (tie) most common name, -91.5% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 113,635 (#36 most common name)

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#28. Sean

Sean is a name of Irish origin meaning "God is gracious".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,464
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 553 (#180 most common name, -87.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 103,875 (#41 most common name)

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Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#27. Mark

Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,485
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 630 (#158 most common name, -86.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 129,460 (#34 most common name)

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#26. Joshua

Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,742
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,297 (#31 most common name, -51.6% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 396,530 (#4 most common name)

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#25. Timothy

Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,831
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 490 (#196 (tie) most common name, -89.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 172,834 (#26 most common name)

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#24. Jeffrey

Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,013
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 315 (#277 (tie) most common name, -93.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 144,798 (#29 most common name)

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Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

#23. Richard

Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,548
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 608 (#162 most common name, -89.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,750 (#27 most common name)

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Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock

#22. Justin

Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,619
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,130 (#85 most common name, -79.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 289,826 (#12 most common name)

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Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock

#21. Eric

Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,636
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 510 (#188 most common name, -91.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 204,246 (#21 most common name)

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#20. Steven

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

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,959
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 665 (#145 most common name, -88.8% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,470 (#25 most common name)

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BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

#19. Nicholas

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

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,097
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,553 (#25 most common name, -58.1% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 223,320 (#19 most common name)

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#18. Jonathan

Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,828
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,557 (#53 most common name, -77.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 229,959 (#18 most common name)

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#17. Kevin

Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,241
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,054 (#95 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 188,685 (#23 most common name)

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#16. Thomas

Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,121 (#38 most common name, -71.8% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,817 (#24 most common name)

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Adrie Molco // Shutterstock

#15. Andrew

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

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,696
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,046 (#42 most common name, -73.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 285,094 (#13 most common name)

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Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock

#14. William

William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,730
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,626 (#24 most common name, -66.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 248,286 (#15 most common name)

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#13. Ryan

Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,757
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,050 (#17 most common name, -60.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 278,954 (#14 most common name)

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DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#12. Jason

Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 8,020
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,169 (#83 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 292,130 (#11 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#11. Anthony

Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 8,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,501 (#14 most common name, -60.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 211,870 (#20 most common name)

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#10. Brian

Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 9,287
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 533 (#183 most common name, -94.3% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 233,997 (#16 most common name)

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Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock

#9. James

James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 9,815
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,694 (#8 most common name, -62.4% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 356,498 (#6 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#8. Robert

Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,437
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,408 (#62 most common name, -87.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,672 (#8 most common name)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#7. David

David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,574
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,993 (#18 most common name, -74.1% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 383,702 (#5 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#6. John

John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,625
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,707 (#23 most common name, -76.7% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,161 (#9 most common name)

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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#5. Joseph

Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 12,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,258 (#5 most common name, -65.0% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 299,416 (#10 most common name)

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yifanjrb // Shutterstock

#4. Daniel

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

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 12,433
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,510 (#12 most common name, -71.8% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 345,559 (#7 most common name)

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#3. Matthew

Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 13,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,004 (#7 most common name, -70.9% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 458,953 (#3 most common name)

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#2. Christopher

Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 16,611
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,455 (#27 most common name, -85.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 554,886 (#2 most common name)

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#1. Michael

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

New Jersey
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 26,881
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,260 (#4 most common name, -84.2% compared to the 80s)

National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 663,824 (#1 most common name)

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