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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia.
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1 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,164
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 113 (#182 (tie) most common name, -90.3% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 154,750 (#27 most common name)
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2 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,170
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 234 (#93 most common name, -80.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 211,870 (#20 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
3 / 30Travis is a name of French origin meaning "to cross".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,178
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#323 most common name, -96.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,925 (#42 most common name)
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4 / 30Nicholas is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,180
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#156 most common name, -88.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 223,320 (#19 most common name)
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5 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,254
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 314 (#62 (tie) most common name, -75.0% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,817 (#24 most common name)
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6 / 30Aaron is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "high mountain".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,297
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 141 (#158 most common name, -89.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 138,366 (#32 most common name)
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7 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,312
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#218 (tie) most common name, -92.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,470 (#25 most common name)
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8 / 30Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,493
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#277 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 204,246 (#21 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
9 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,688
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 159 (#134 most common name, -90.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 172,834 (#26 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
10 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#259 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 233,997 (#16 most common name)
2p2play // Shutterstock
11 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,710
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 334 (#57 most common name, -80.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 131,905 (#33 most common name)
My Good Images // Shutterstock
12 / 30Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,720
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 208 (#110 most common name, -87.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 278,954 (#14 most common name)
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
13 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,763
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#74 (tie) most common name, -83.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 345,559 (#7 most common name)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
14 / 30Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,885
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 123 (#173 most common name, -93.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 195,084 (#22 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 30Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,907
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 292 (#71 most common name, -84.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 285,094 (#13 most common name)
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock
16 / 30Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,976
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 160 (#132 (tie) most common name, -91.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 229,959 (#18 most common name)
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17 / 30Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,031
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#327 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,414 (#28 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
18 / 30Brandon is a name of English origin meaning "beacon hill" or "crow".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,265
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 122 (#174 most common name, -94.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 232,206 (#17 most common name)
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19 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,298
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 415 (#42 most common name, -81.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 299,416 (#10 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
20 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,393
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 667 (#13 most common name, -72.1% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 248,286 (#15 most common name)
Falcona // Shutterstock
21 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#34 most common name, -83.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,161 (#9 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
22 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,710
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#74 (tie) most common name, -89.4% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,672 (#8 most common name)
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
23 / 30Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,950
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 152 (#143 (tie) most common name, -94.8% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 292,130 (#11 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,970
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#64 (tie) most common name, -89.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 383,702 (#5 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
25 / 30Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,376
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#196 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 289,826 (#12 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
26 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,670
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 663 (#14 most common name, -81.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 356,498 (#6 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
27 / 30Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,744
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 317 (#60 most common name, -91.5% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 458,953 (#3 most common name)
Minnikova Mariia // Shutterstock
28 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,318
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 493 (#28 most common name, -88.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 663,824 (#1 most common name)
Mallmo // Shutterstock
29 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,432
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 316 (#61 most common name, -92.9% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 554,886 (#2 most common name)
Irisska // Shutterstock
30 / 30Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,109
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 275 (#77 most common name, -94.6% compared to the 80s)
National:
- Babies from 1980 to 1989: 396,530 (#4 most common name)
