Name Game

Baby Naming Trends Since the 80s and What it Says About Us

Naming a child is one of the first significant decisions parents have to make. The decision can take a long time as parents ponder on the best name to give their child. Yet, as we pore through the lists of names that parents have given to their children over the decades, they reflect one common theme: the names parents give to their babies reflect more about them than the infants. The decision is usually made based on a mix of cultural trends, personal values and societal influences. Since the 80s, the landscape of baby names has evolved considerably, driven by changing social dynamics, pop culture influences and a desire for uniqueness. We take a look at the shifting trends in baby naming from the 1980s to today, examining the possible factors that have influenced these changes.

The 1980s were characterised by a penchant for traditional, timeless names. This era favoured classic names that exuded stability and familiarity. For boys, names like Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua and David topped the charts, while, for girls, Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda and Sarah were exceedingly popular.

Several factors contributed to these choices. The 1980s were relatively stable socio-politically, and this cultural stability was reflected in the preference for traditional names which originated or are influenced by the bible. These names reflected the strong influence of Judeo-Christian values during that period.

Michael