Life

15 ‘80s Baby Names Only Parents Of The Bomb Dot Com Decade Would Choose

by Lindsay E. Mack

The 1980s are having a major moment. Pages of slap bracelets are available on Amazon, Journey is a perennial best seller on iTunes, and babies of the decade are in search of '80s-inspired baby names for their little ones. Will the next little girl at your child’s preschool be a Madonna? Because that would be most excellent.

Parents of this tubular decade have some interesting pop culture to use as inspiration for baby names. My own mother caught a Fleetwood Mac performance on MTV in the middle of 1985, liked the sound of Lindsey Buckingham’s name, and boom: I was christened Lindsay. I mean, it could have been a lot worse – I could be Axl Rose Mack or something. (Just kidding. That would have been totally radical!)

So here is a list of some baby names that only a true '80s baby would pick for their children. By remembering some of the best tv shows, films, and music of the era, you just might come across the perfect name for your own little gremlin. Dust off those cassettes, rewind the VHS tapes, and get ready for the best baby names inspired by the 1980s.

1

Ally

Ally Sheedy played the “basketcase” in 1985’s The Breakfast Club, and she also appeared in the '80s classics War Games, St. Elmo’s Fire, and Short Circuit. Naming your kid after one of the most original ladies of the decade would be totally awesome.  

2

Andrew

Star of St. Elmo’s Fire and Pretty in Pink, Andrew McCarthy was a certified '80s heartthrob. Why not salute the original Brat Pack when picking out a name for your decidedly non-bratty kid?

3

Bryan

Chances are, you have some pretty fond memories of Bryan Adams’ 1984 album Reckless, which featured hits like “Run to You” and “Heaven.” Bryan also makes for a pretty solid name that means brave.

4

Christopher

Christopher Lloyd is a national treasure, and you don’t have to look any further than the Doc himself for naming inspiration. (Is this name technically inspired by the future?)

5

Corey

Whether you’re a fan of Corey Feldman or Corey Haim, this is a solid name. Feldman was in the '80s classics Stand by Me, The Goonies, Gremlins, and The Lost Boys, while Haim was in License to Drive and The Lost Boys as well.

6

Cyndi

If you want an unusual name for your baby girl, look no further than Cyndi Lauper. Her music dominated the 1980s, and it’s hard to imagine a world without “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” or “Time After Time.”

7

George

George Michael is another colorful muse from the decade. With a name inspired by this Wham! alum, your kid will be the coolest baby on the block.

8

Haviland

Haviland Morris played the blonde girl in 16 Candles (remember the infamous hair-cutting scene?). This striking name is perfect if you’re looking for a truly unique moniker.

9

Kiefer

Another alum of The Lost Boys, Keifer Sutherland was an '80s icon in his own right. And with another name that doesn’t crack the  not crack the SSA’s top name list, it’s likely your kid will be the only Kiefer running around the playground one day.  

10

Kirk

Best known for his role on Growing Pains, Kirk Cameron is a classic '80s star. Maybe your baby will one day grow up to star on TV (or a vlog).

11

Lori

After starring in the TV show Fame and later the film Footloose, Lori Singer is a wildly talented '80s star. If your little one is already footloose and fancy free, consider the name Lori.

12

Michael

From Michael Jackson to Michael J. Fox, the 1980s had tons of talented Michaels. It was even the most popular boy’s name for the entire decade!

13

Molly

No '80s list would be complete without mentioning the queen of the Brat Pack. Star of 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club, Molly Ringwald ruled '80s cinema. Molly is also a classic girl’s name that still sounds charming today.  

14

Peter

It was Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” that blasted from John Cusack’s boombox in Say Anything, and many of Gabriel’s other hits — such as “Sledgehammer” — are pure '80s goodness. When choosing a name for your son, consider this rock legend for inspiration.  

15

Tiffany

Is there a more quintessentially '80s name than Tiffany? The name alone conjures images of malls, big hair, and those newfangled music videos. If you choose this name for your little girl, go ahead and stock up on hairspray now.

Images: Paramount Pictures; Giphy (15)