Baby name trends are always shifting, and for those of us who were born in the ’80s, it might feel like our names have been left in the past. Recently, TikTok user and professional baby name consultant Colleen Slagen went viral for sharing some rare information.
In one of her posts, she dissected the top 100 girls’ names from 1986. She highlighted the ones that “did not age well” and have fallen out of favor. Interestingly, some names that had once been popular are still holding their ground.
Which baby names from the ’80s are no longer popular?
@namingbebe Sorry Lindsay, Heather, and Courtney. #babynames #nametok #nameconsultant #girlnames #80skid #1986 #nametrend ♬ original sound – Colleen
The first name that Slagen identifies as “officially out” is Heather. Other names from the ’80s that have fallen off the charts include Erica, Courtney, Lindsay, Tara, Crystal, Shannon, Brandy, and Dana. Tiffany, Brittany, and Casey are also heading in the same direction. While these names were once staples of the ’80s baby boom, they’re now relics of a bygone era.
However, there are some surprising survivors. Andrea ranks surprisingly high, and names like Jessica, Ashley, and Stephanie have managed to hold on — at least for now. The real champion of the ’80s still remains Jennifer, as it stayed in the top 100 until as recently as 2008.
Fans share their thoughts on outdated baby names
TikTok users were shocked by Slagen’s list, with one person wondering how and why Stephanie made the list. “How is Stephanie still in there? I don’t think I’ve met a Stephanie younger than myself at 34,” he wrote. Others shared their own experiences, and a certain Brandy insisted his name is getting extinct.
“My name is Brandy. The Gen Z hostess at Olive Garden told me that she’d never heard my name before, and it was so unique.” Another fan remarked, “I met a toddler Amanda recently, and they called her Mandy. I was sooo surprised. Such an ’80s vibe!” One person reflected, “1985 Jessica here. Every girl in my class was either Jessica, Jennifer, or Ashley.”