Rhode island's most popular baby names in 1982

In the year 1982, the state of Rhode Island saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, the top names were Jessica, Jennifer, and Melissa. These names were likely influenced by popular culture at the time, with Jessica being the name of the lead character in the hit TV show "Jessica Fletcher," and Jennifer being a common name in movies and music.

For baby boys, the top names were Michael, Christopher, and Matthew. These names have remained popular over the years, with Michael consistently ranking in the top 10 most popular baby boy names in the United States. Christopher and Matthew are also classic names that have stood the test of time.

Overall, the top baby names in Rhode Island in 1982 reflect a mix of traditional and trendy names. While some of these names may have fallen out of fashion today, they remain a snapshot of the popular culture and naming trends of the time.

Most popular baby girl names in Rhode island in 1982

In Rhode Island, 1982, the most popular baby girl names were Jessica, Jennifer, Melissa, Sarah, and Amanda. Jessica was the most popular name with 233 babies given that name, followed closely by Jennifer with 230 babies. Melissa, Sarah, and Amanda rounded out the top five with 130, 124, and 123 babies given those names, respectively. These names were likely popular due to their popularity nationwide during that time period.

Jessica

233 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Jennifer

230 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Melissa

130 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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

124 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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

123 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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
115 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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
104 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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
94 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Rebecca
87 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Amy
80 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Erin
77 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Michelle
74 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Kristen
71 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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".
Heather
68 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Crystal
64 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) named Crystal
The name Crystal is of Greek origin and means "ice or clear". It is often associated with the mineral quartz crystal and is a popular name choice for girls.
Lauren
62 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Danielle
61 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) named Danielle
The name Danielle is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge".
Kimberly
61 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Kelly
57 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Lisa
50 baby girls born in Rhode island (1982) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".

Most popular baby boy names in Rhode island in 1982

In Rhode Island in 1982, the most popular baby boy name was Michael, with 362 babies given that name. Following closely behind were Christopher with 245 babies, Matthew with 226 babies, Jason with 191 babies, and David with 182 babies. These five names were the most commonly chosen for baby boys in Rhode Island that year.

Michael

362 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Christopher

245 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Matthew

226 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Jason

191 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named Jason
The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".
David

182 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Joseph
176 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
John
150 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Joshua
144 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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
141 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Brian
129 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Ryan
129 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Robert
123 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Daniel
120 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Kevin
112 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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".
Justin
103 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named Justin
The name Justin is of Latin origin and means "just, upright, righteous." It was a popular name among early Christians and has been used throughout history by various notable figures.
Jonathan
99 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Andrew
93 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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 "andrós" 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.
Richard
89 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Eric
87 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.
Thomas
85 baby boys born in Rhode island (1982) 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.