Rhode island's most popular baby names in 1980

In the year 1980, the state of Rhode Island saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Jennifer was the most popular name for baby girls that year, followed closely by Jessica and Melissa. These names were all the rage among new parents, and it's not hard to see why - they are all classic, timeless names that have remained popular to this day.

For baby boys, the top names in Rhode Island in 1980 were Michael, Jason, and David. These names have been popular for decades and continue to be popular choices for parents today. Michael, in particular, has been a top name for boys for many years and shows no signs of losing its popularity anytime soon. Overall, the baby names chosen by Rhode Island parents in 1980 reflect a preference for traditional, classic names that stand the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in Rhode island in 1980

According to the data from Rhode Island in 1980, the top five baby girl names were Jennifer, Jessica, Melissa, Sarah, and Amanda. Jennifer was the most popular name with 229 babies given that name, followed by Jessica with 187. Melissa came in third with 166 babies given that name, while Sarah and Amanda came in fourth and fifth with 112 and 105 babies given those names, respectively.

Jennifer

229 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Jessica

187 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Melissa

166 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Sarah

112 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Amanda

105 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Nicole
100 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Stephanie
90 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Elizabeth
86 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Amy
85 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Michelle
81 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Lisa
81 baby girls born in Rhode island (1980) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Christine
72 baby girls born in Rhode island (1980) named Christine
The name Christine is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ".
Kelly
69 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Rebecca
69 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Heather
67 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Erin
66 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Kimberly
57 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Danielle
56 baby girls born in Rhode island (1980) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Kristen
54 baby girls born in Rhode island (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".
Lauren
48 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

Most popular baby boy names in Rhode island in 1980

In Rhode Island in 1980, the most popular baby boy name was Michael, with 344 babies given that name. Following closely behind were Jason with 227, David with 207, Matthew with 188, and Christopher with 182. These five names were the most commonly chosen names for baby boys in the state that year.

Michael

344 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Jason

227 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
David

207 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Matthew

188 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Christopher

182 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
John
174 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Joseph
169 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Robert
156 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Brian
144 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Daniel
142 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Joshua
130 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
James
126 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William
99 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Eric
97 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Nicholas
94 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Nicholas
The name Nicholas is derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), which means "victory of the people". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures, and is often associated with Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants.
Thomas
92 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Thomas
The name Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin". It is a common name in many cultures and has been used for centuries.
Ryan
91 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Jonathan
89 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Kevin
89 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Kevin
The name Kevin is of Irish origin and means "handsome" or "gentle birth". It is derived from the Irish name Caoimhín, which is composed of the Gaelic words "caomh" meaning "kind" or "gentle" and "gin" meaning "birth".
Jeffrey
87 baby boys born in Rhode island (1980) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.