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 Washington, D.C. 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.
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
1 / 30Andrea is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 408
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#158 (tie) most common name, -85.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 98,264 (#32 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
2 / 30Shannon is a name of Irish origin meaning "wise river".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 409
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#158 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 78,421 (#38 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
3 / 30Megan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 424
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#158 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,502 (#14 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 30Ebony is a name of Latin origin meaning "deep black wood".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 437
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#158 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 18,025 (#140 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
5 / 30Kelly is a name of Irish origin meaning "bright-headed".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 109,540 (#28 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
6 / 30Brittany is a name of French origin meaning "from Briton".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 463
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#457 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 140,812 (#21 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
7 / 30Erin is a name of Irish origin meaning "peace".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 474
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 115,811 (#27 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
8 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 474
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 (tie) most common name, -75.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 95,862 (#34 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
9 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#227 most common name, -92.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 136,243 (#21 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
10 / 30Erica is a name of Norse origin meaning "eternal ruler".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 519
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#227 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 93,161 (#35 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
11 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#329 (tie) most common name, -96.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,611 (#22 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
12 / 30Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#329 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 217,929 (#7 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
13 / 30Rachel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 574
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#329 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,678 (#16 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
14 / 30Crystal is a name of Latin origin meaning "Earth mineral".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 589
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#329 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,009 (#20 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
15 / 30Emily is a name of Latin origin meaning "to strive".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 620
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#34 (tie) most common name, -71.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,770 (#24 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
16 / 30Amanda is a name of Latin origin meaning "worthy of love".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 634
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#34 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 369,728 (#3 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
17 / 30Christina is a name of Latin origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 634
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#34 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,011 (#18 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
18 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#291 (tie) most common name, -96.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,032 (#12 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
19 / 30Danielle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 657
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 134,380 (#23 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
20 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 64 (#147 most common name, -90.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 146,453 (#17 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
21 / 30Katherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 697
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 137 (#57 most common name, -80.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 99,176 (#31 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
22 / 30Stephanie is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 805
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#351 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 218,175 (#6 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
23 / 30Nicole is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 817
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#270 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 210,498 (#8 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 30Lauren is a name of Latin origin meaning "the bay or laurel plant".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#186 most common name, -94.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 145,147 (#19 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
25 / 30Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 944
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 83 (#115 most common name, -91.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 272,647 (#5 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
26 / 30Tiffany is a name of Greek origin meaning "appearance of God".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 967
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 83 (#115 most common name, data not available compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 158,625 (#11 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
27 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 974
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name, -63.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 198,977 (#9 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 30Ashley is a name of English origin meaning "ash tree meadow".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,172
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#65 most common name, -89.2% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 352,185 (#4 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
29 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,318
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 440,916 (#2 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
30 / 30Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God beholds".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,351
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#457 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 469,518 (#1 most common name)
