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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota.
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1 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 552
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#36 most common name, -59.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,817 (#24 most common name)
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2 / 30Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#22 most common name, -47.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,385 (#31 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
3 / 30Cody is a name of English origin meaning "helpful".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 596
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#221 (tie) most common name, -91.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 60,198 (#57 most common name)
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4 / 30Jesse is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "the Lord exists".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 632
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#131 most common name, -84.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 85,915 (#48 most common name)
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
5 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#131 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 233,997 (#16 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
6 / 30Aaron is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "high mountain".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 686
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#154 most common name, -87.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 138,366 (#32 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
7 / 30Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 690
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#264 most common name, -95.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,414 (#28 most common name)
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8 / 30Travis is a name of French origin meaning "to cross".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 696
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#395 (tie) most common name, -98.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,925 (#42 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
9 / 30Brandon is a name of English origin meaning "beacon hill" or "crow".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 700
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#239 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 232,206 (#17 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
10 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#134 most common name, -86.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,672 (#8 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
11 / 30Nathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "given".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 742
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#105 (tie) most common name, -83.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 105,994 (#39 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
12 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 769
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 341 (#13 most common name, -55.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 356,498 (#6 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
13 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 774
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 206 (#46 (tie) most common name, -73.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 299,416 (#10 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
14 / 30Kyle is a name of Scottish origin meaning "narrow strait".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 774
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#338 most common name, -97.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,950 (#30 most common name)
Falcona // Shutterstock
15 / 30Dustin is a name of Norse origin meaning "brave warrior".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 801
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#338 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 97,308 (#44 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
16 / 30Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 824
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#259 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 204,246 (#21 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
17 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 162 (#69 most common name, -81.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,161 (#9 most common name)
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
18 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 870
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 165 (#66 (tie) most common name, -81.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 383,702 (#5 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nicholas is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 895
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#321 most common name, -97.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 223,320 (#19 most common name)
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20 / 30Tyler is a name of English origin meaning "doorkeeper of an inn" or "owner of a tavern".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 964
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#166 most common name, -92.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 86,435 (#47 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
21 / 30Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 965
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#182 (tie) most common name, -92.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 195,084 (#22 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
22 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#33 most common name, -76.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 345,559 (#7 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
23 / 30Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,010
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#176 (tie) most common name, -93.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 292,130 (#11 most common name)
Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
24 / 30Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,087
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 139 (#86 most common name, -87.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 285,094 (#13 most common name)
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
25 / 30Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,222
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#225 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 289,826 (#12 most common name)
2p2play // Shutterstock
26 / 30Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,264
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#180 most common name, -94.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 278,954 (#14 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,519
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#93 most common name, -91.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 554,886 (#2 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
28 / 30Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,587
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 102 (#125 (tie) most common name, -93.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 396,530 (#4 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
29 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,669
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 251 (#29 most common name, -85.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 663,824 (#1 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 30Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,721
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 145 (#78 (tie) most common name, -91.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 458,953 (#3 most common name)
