Baby Names From the 1980s That Nobody Names Their Kid Anymore

Some trends from the 1980s are better left in the fashion archives. I’m looking at you, mile-high hair and powder-blue mascara—not that I, uh, ever followed any of those trends. And here’s the thing: Certain baby names that were incredibly popular back then should stay in the past, too. Let’s just say that some of our parents made some odd choices when it came to naming us. Then again, depending on your perspective, it might be that some of the names that fell out of style were purely victims of over-saturation: When you have seven friends named Jennifer, odds are you’re not going to add another Jennifer to the confusion…or name your kid the same name that everyone else is using.

So I say that there are definitely a few baby names that fell out of vogue around the same time as New Kids on the Block and the Rubik’s Cube that could be ready for a comeback. Consider some of these ’80s names that have declined significantly in popularity—or even dropped out of the top 1000 altogether, according to stats from the Social Security Office—since the era of synthesizers and shoulder pads. Could your future baby’s name be among them? Check out our list of popular (but never used anymore) baby names from the 1980s, and tell us what you think!

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Baby Names from the '80s That Nobody Names Their Kid Anymore

Amanda

Thanks, very likely, to Barry Manilow's massive hit "Mandy," there was a plethora of Amandas in the 1980s, but today...not so many. This name, which means "much loved," has fallen out of the top 300.
Brandi/Brandy

People have apparently thought twice about the idea of naming their child after liquor. Both spellings were in the top 100 in the 1980s, but have fallen out of the top 1000 now.
Brittany

Perhaps Britney Spears could be part of the reason this name has fallen out of favor?
Carrie

Even Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw couldn't resurrect this name, which has fallen out of the top 1000.
Chad

This Yuppie favorite peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, but is falling out of favor fast.
Chelsea

This place name pick was an up-and-comer in the 1980s, and hit its peak in 1992. It's still in the top 300, but on a slow and steady decline.
Crystal

This name lost a bit of its sparkle after its 1980s heyday—and it's been on a sharp decline since the year 2000. (Same goes for the "k" spelling, Krystal.)
Cynthia

I have no clue why this ancient name, connected with the Greek goddess Artemis, has declined since the 1980s. It's a great name!
Danielle

This feminization of the Biblical Daniel peaked in the 1980s. But with Elle/Ella names becoming so popular now, it could be ready for a comeback.
Derrick

No matter how you spell it, this British name, which means "ruler," has fallen out of favor. (Same goes for the alternative spelling, Derek.)
Donald

Blame Disney's cantankerous duck (and now, the cantankerous presidential candidate) for pulling this name down in popularity.
Dustin

With its trendy "en" ending, it's unclear why it fell from the top 100 to the top 500 over the last few decades.
Frank

This nickname for Francis has been given to celebrity daughters (i.e. Drew Barrymore!)—and with Pope Francis attracting fans, it may yet make a comeback (though probably not as an official formal name).
Gary

Screen legend Gary Cooper gave this name some cachet back in the day, but now it's plummeting fast.
Gregory

This old-school name was beloved by popes and saints, but not so much by modern moms and dads—since its heyday in the mid- to late-20th century, it's fallen out of the top 300.
Heather

This pretty floral name was a victim of its own popularity—a top 10 favorite throughout the 1970s and 1980s (to the point where the wicked clique in the 1980s dark comedy Heathers all shared the name), it's now barely holding on in the top 1000.
Jeffrey

Jeffrey has a lovely meaning—pledge of peace—and after a long run of popularity, it's now fallen outside the top 250.
Jennifer

Jennifer died from overkill. If you're a newish mom right now, odds are your circle of friends includes at least half a dozen Jens, Jennys or Jennifers. Expect at least another decade or two to pass before it sounds fresh again.
Jessica

This was THE #1 name of the 1980s, which still reigns big in the U.K. (currently #8)—but is now just inside the top 200 in the U.S.
Keith

This uberpopular Scottish favorite, meaning wood, ruled from the 1960s to the 1980s, but has plummeted in the past few decades.
Kelly

This Celtic classic, a popular pick for the 1970s and 1980s, has fallen to just inside the top 500.
Kenneth

This "handsome" Irish name once ruled the baby name popularity contest, but it's now just inside the top 200.
Kevin

This saintly name was top 25 from the 1950s through the 1980s, but is now a bit further down the charts.
Lisa

I was one of three Lisas in my class of 86 kids. And that's exactly why this Elizabeth nickname is out of favor—and out of the top 750 names in the U.S.
Michelle

After reigning in the top 10 through most of the 1970s and 1980s, this feminization of Michael is on a slow and steady decline—and even First Lady Michelle Obama hasn’t helped resurrect it.
Misty

Perhaps ballet phenom Misty Copeland can help bring back this word name?
Ronald

Maybe the McDonald's mascot has kept this name from regaining its heyday—despite the fact that Harry Potter's faithful bestie sports the name.
Scott

Since 2000, Scott's taken a steep run toward the bottom of the baby name list. Which is too bad, because it's a lovely, short and sweet name.
Shane

This name has some cowboy swagger—and a Walking Dead tie-in—that could help give it some credit for a new generation.
Tara

It's a mystery why this pretty Irish name lost favor, but it's now barely inside the top 1000.
Tiffany

This brand name was tied with the bubblegum pop princess of the mall—which may explain why it's now just inside the top 500.