Decade dossier

1980s baby names

The names that defined the 1980s: Michael and Jessica led the decade, but the full roster tells a richer story.

A 1980s classroom probably included Jessica, Jennifer, Michael, Christopher. Some became durable classics; others now read like timestamps.

Girls

#1Jessica469,510
#2Jennifer440,914
#3Amanda369,727
#4Ashley352,185
#5Sarah272,637
#6Stephanie218,173
#7Melissa217,922
#8Nicole210,494
#9Elizabeth198,972
#10Heather191,852
#11Tiffany158,625
#12Michelle154,027
#13Amber153,951
#14Megan153,500
#15Amy150,662
#16Rachel146,675
#17Kimberly146,452
#18Christina146,008
#19Lauren145,161
#20Crystal141,007
#21Brittany140,854
#22Rebecca136,248
#23Laura134,608
#24Danielle134,379
#25Emily131,764

Boys

#1Michael663,807
#2Christopher554,863
#3Matthew458,951
#4Joshua396,524
#5David383,687
#6James356,491
#7Daniel345,537
#8Robert321,655
#9John321,150
#10Joseph299,411
#11Jason292,120
#12Justin289,825
#13Andrew285,074
#14Ryan278,938
#15William248,277
#16Brian233,993
#17Brandon232,206
#18Jonathan229,953
#19Nicholas223,308
#20Anthony211,861
#21Eric204,230
#22Adam195,086
#23Kevin188,670
#24Thomas177,817
#25Steven177,454