Massachusetts's most popular baby names in 1980

In the year 1980, the state of Massachusetts saw a surge in popular baby names for both boys and girls. Jennifer, Melissa, and Jessica were the top three names for baby girls, while Michael, Matthew, and Christopher were the top three names for baby boys.

Jennifer, meaning "white wave" in Welsh, was a popular choice for parents looking for a classic and timeless name for their baby girl. Melissa, meaning "honeybee" in Greek, was also a well-liked name among parents in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Michael, meaning "who is like God" in Hebrew, was a popular choice for baby boys, along with Matthew, meaning "gift of God," and Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ." These names have stood the test of time and remain popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts in 1980

According to the data, the most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts in 1980 were Jennifer, Melissa, Jessica, Sarah, and Nicole. Jennifer was the most popular name with 1480 babies given that name, followed by Melissa with 908, Jessica with 876, Sarah with 756, and Nicole with 639. These names were the top choices for parents in Massachusetts during that year.

  1. Jennifer

    1480 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Jennifer

    The name Jennifer is of Welsh origin and means "fair and smooth". It was first used as a given name in the United States in the 20th century and became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

  2. Melissa

    908 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Melissa

    The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." It was a popular name in ancient Greece and is often associated with sweetness and industriousness.

  3. Jessica

    876 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Jessica

    The name Jessica is of Hebrew origin and means "God beholds" or "God sees". It is derived from the name Yiskah in the Old Testament, which was the name of a daughter of Haran and sister of Milcah and Iscah. The name Jessica has been in use since the 16th century and became popular in the 20th century.

  4. Sarah

    756 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Sarah

    The name Sarah means "princess" in Hebrew. It is a popular name in many cultures and is often associated with grace, beauty, and kindness.

  5. Nicole

    639 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Nicole

    Nicole is a feminine given name of Greek origin, meaning "victory of the people". It is a popular name in English-speaking countries and has been in use since the 1930s.

  6. Elizabeth

    635 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Elizabeth

    Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.

  7. Michelle

    540 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Michelle

    Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin. The name means "who is like God" or "gift from God." It is a variation of the name Michael, which comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God." The name Michelle has been used in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century and has gained popularity over time.

  8. Erin

    477 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Erin

    The name Erin is of Irish origin and means "peace" or "Ireland". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.

  9. Amanda

    463 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Amanda

    The name Amanda is of Latin origin, meaning "lovable" or "worthy of love". It was first used as a name in the 17th century and became popular in the 19th century. The name is often associated with kindness, compassion, and a friendly personality.

  10. Lisa

    452 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Lisa

    The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".

  11. Heather

    429 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Heather

    The name Heather is of English origin and is derived from the name of a flowering plant that grows in Scotland. The name is often associated with the color purple and is said to symbolize admiration, good luck, and protection.

  12. Amy

    427 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Amy

    The name Amy means "beloved" or "dearly loved" in French and Latin. It is a popular name for girls and has been used since the Middle Ages.

  13. Kimberly

    425 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Kimberly

    The name Kimberly means "from the wood of the royal forest" or "royal fortress meadow". It is of Old English origin and was first used as a given name in the 1940s.

  14. Rebecca

    395 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Rebecca

    Rebecca means "captivating" or "knotted cord" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament.

  15. Stephanie

    373 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Stephanie

    The name Stephanie is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a feminine name that has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 20th century.

  16. Danielle

    371 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Danielle

    The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".

  17. Laura

    362 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Laura

    The name Laura is of Latin origin and means "bay laurel". It was a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Rome. The name has been popular in many countries and cultures throughout history.

  18. Kelly

    355 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Kelly

    The name Kelly is of Irish origin and means "bright-headed" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, meaning it can be given to both boys and girls. The name has been popularized by its use as a surname and has been used as a given name since the 20th century.

  19. Lauren

    347 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Lauren

    The name Lauren is of English origin and means "bay laurel" or "crowned with laurel". It is a feminine name that has been popular since the 1940s.

  20. Kristen

    329 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1980) named Kristen

    The name Kristen is of Scandinavian origin and is a variation of the name Christine. It means "follower of Christ" or "anointed one".

Most popular baby boy names in Massachusetts in 1980

In Massachusetts in the year 1980, the top 5 most popular baby boy names were Michael, Matthew, Christopher, Jason, and David. Michael was the most popular name with 2020 babies given that name, followed by Matthew with 1239 babies, Christopher with 1221 babies, Jason with 1134 babies, and David with 1038 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and traditional family names.

  1. Michael

    2020 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Michael

    The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.

  2. Matthew

    1239 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Matthew

    Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".

  3. Christopher

    1221 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Christopher

    The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."

  4. Jason

    1134 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Jason

    The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".

  5. David

    1038 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named David

    The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.

  6. John

    952 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named John

    The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.

  7. Daniel

    878 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Daniel

    The name Daniel means "God is my judge".

  8. James

    832 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named James

    The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".

  9. Robert

    799 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Robert

    The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.

  10. Brian

    786 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Brian

    The name Brian is of Irish origin and means "strong, virtuous, and honorable". It is a popular name for boys in Ireland and has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.

  11. Joseph

    780 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  12. Joshua

    592 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Joshua

    The name Joshua means "God is salvation" or "Yahweh is salvation" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name and was the name of one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan. Joshua later became the successor to Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

  13. Timothy

    573 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Timothy

    The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.

  14. Eric

    571 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Eric

    The name Eric is of Scandinavian origin and means "eternal ruler" or "ruler of all". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures.

  15. William

    570 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named William

    The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.

  16. Ryan

    570 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Ryan

    The name Ryan is of Irish origin and means "little king" or "illustrious". It is a popular name for boys in English-speaking countries.

  17. Andrew

    562 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Andrew

    The name Andrew means "manly" or "warrior" and is of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek name Andreas, which comes from the word "andrĂ³s" meaning "man". Andrew is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and is often used in Christian traditions due to the apostle Andrew being one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.

  18. Jeffrey

    555 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Jeffrey

    The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.

  19. Jonathan

    549 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Jonathan

    The name Jonathan means "gift of God" or "God has given" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, appearing in the Old Testament as the name of King Saul's son and close friend of David.

  20. Adam

    526 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1980) named Adam

    The name Adam is of Hebrew origin and means "man" or "earth". It is also the name of the first man created by God in the Bible.