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 Pennsylvania 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 / 30#30. Angela
Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,375
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 274 (#403 (tie) most common name, -94.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 116,594 (#27 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Jamie
Jamie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "supplanter".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,413
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 148 (#685 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 96,557 (#34 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Lisa
Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,623
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#856 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,617 (#31 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Brittany
Brittany is a name of French origin meaning "from Briton".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 78 (#1026 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 140,812 (#21 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Samantha
Samantha is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,995
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 938 (#106 most common name, -84.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 121,126 (#26 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Amber
Amber is a name of Persian origin meaning "ambergris", a fragrant material extracted from a type of whale.
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,220
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 225 (#489 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,951 (#13 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Emily
Emily is a name of Latin origin meaning "to strive".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,271
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,790 (#17 most common name, -55.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,770 (#25 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Tiffany
Tiffany is a name of Greek origin meaning "appearance of God".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,325
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#893 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 158,625 (#11 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Kimberly
Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,438
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 276 (#397 (tie) most common name, -95.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Christina
Christina is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,709
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 202 (#528 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,011 (#18 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Erin
Erin is a name of Irish origin meaning "peace".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,834
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 269 (#408 (tie) most common name, -96.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 115,811 (#28 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Michelle
Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,971
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 229 (#483 (tie) most common name, -96.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Rachel
Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,180
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 751 (#145 most common name, -89.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Laura
Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,225
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 519 (#225 (tie) most common name, -92.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#23 most common name)
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15 / 30Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,537
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 602 (#187 most common name, -92.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#22 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Amy
Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,819
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 324 (#353 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 150,659 (#15 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Danielle
Danielle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 7,972
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 269 (#408 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#24 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 8,811
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,835 (#16 most common name, -67.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Megan
Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 9,029
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 176 (#596 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Heather
Heather is a name of Scottish origin meaning "a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 9,656
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 62 (#1173 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 191,854 (#10 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Stephanie
Stephanie is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 10,006
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 173 (#606 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Lauren
Lauren is a name of Latin origin meaning "the bay or laurel plant".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 10,159
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 411 (#291 most common name, -96.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 145,147 (#19 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Melissa
Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,088
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 232 (#476 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Sarah
Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 11,815
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,398 (#68 most common name, -88.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Nicole
Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 14,031
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 323 (#356 most common name, -97.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Ashley
Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 16,146
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 426 (#278 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Amanda
Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 18,453
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 472 (#251 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Jennifer
Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 20,516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#487 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. Jessica
Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 20,973
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 309 (#367 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)
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