The 1980 Baby Name Report

3,444,506 babies, 17,729 unique names — the risers, fallers, and brand-new arrivals of 1980

👑 #1 girls: Jennifer (11 years running) 👑 #1 boys: Michael (20 years running) 1,072 debuts

Top girls

  1. Jennifer58,378
  2. Amanda35,811
  3. Jessica33,923
  4. Melissa31,634
  5. Sarah25,759
  6. Heather19,973
  7. Nicole19,917
  8. Amy19,833
  9. Elizabeth19,531
  10. Michelle19,120

Top boys

  1. Michael68,687
  2. Christopher49,082
  3. Jason48,166
  4. David41,890
  5. James39,314
  6. Matthew37,839
  7. Joshua36,054
  8. John35,277
  9. Robert34,269
  10. Joseph30,185

Full top-50 rankings for 1980 →

🚀 Fastest risers

  1. Renada #2,236 → #709 (+1,527)
  2. Anya #1,593 → #557 (+1,036)
  3. Ariana #1,030 → #598 (+432)
  4. Loni #990 → #570 (+420)
  5. Renata #727 → #336 (+391)
  6. Syreeta #957 → #569 (+388)
  7. Mariana #1,027 → #704 (+323)
  8. Caitlin #677 → #365 (+312)
  9. Christin #732 → #422 (+310)
  10. Alaina #808 → #501 (+307)

📉 Biggest fallers

  1. Kizzy #648 → #1,146 (−498)
  2. January #749 → #1,119 (−370)
  3. Winter #706 → #1,029 (−323)
  4. Viviana #487 → #794 (−307)
  5. Alysia #689 → #955 (−266)
  6. Crissy #666 → #922 (−256)
  7. Windy #731 → #976 (−245)
  8. Qiana #556 → #788 (−232)
  9. Meghann #517 → #731 (−214)
  10. Kylene #779 → #990 (−211)

✨ Never recorded before 1980

Tou (33) Nykeba (26) Ilea (24) Marchello (24) Semiko (23) Kao (23) Brittanya (19) Cielita (17) Nyah (17) Yer (17)

1,072 names appeared in SSA records for the first time ever in 1980.

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What were the most popular baby names in 1980?
Jennifer was the #1 girl name and Michael the #1 boy name in 1980, out of 3,444,506 recorded births.
What baby name rose fastest in 1980?
Renada made the biggest jump in 1980, climbing 1,527 spots to #709.
How many new baby names appeared in 1980?
1,072 names were recorded by the SSA for the first time ever in 1980.