Names that peaked in the 1980s

Names whose highest recorded position in an official list falls in the 1980s, with at least 3 recorded years on each side of that year.

A peak only means something against the years around it. Requiring record on both sides of the peak year keeps out names that merely start high — England and Wales publishes from 1996, so a name ranked highest in its first recorded year has not peaked, it has simply been observed.

60 names, selected from the 2,573 names in the catalogue with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Based on official statistics from national registrars. Data sources · Methodology

• Daniel

  Highest recorded position #1 among boys in New Zealand in 1980, across a record running 1954–2023.

• David

  Highest recorded position #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1985, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Ida

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in Norway in 1988, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Jessica

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984, across a record running 1976–2017.

• Matthew

  Highest recorded position #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1982, across a record running 1957–2023.

• Silje

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in Norway in 1982, across a record running 1966–2025.

• Amanda

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1980, across a record running 1954–1999.

• Camilla

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in Norway in 1980, across a record running 1949–2025.

• Christopher

  Highest recorded position #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1985, across a record running 1952–2014.

• Laura

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Linn

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in Norway in 1984, across a record running 1958–2025.

• Marianne

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in Norway in 1981, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Sarah

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1981, across a record running 1965–2021.

• Stian

  Highest recorded position #2 among boys in Norway in 1983, across a record running 1947–2025.

• Anders

  Highest recorded position #3 among boys in Norway in 1981, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Emma

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1988, across a record running 1969–2025.

• Lisa

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1984, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Maria

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in Norway in 1982, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Samantha

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in New Zealand in 1989, across a record running 1978–2015.

• Stine

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in Norway in 1986, across a record running 1951–2025.

• Jennifer

  Highest recorded position #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1981, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Marius

  Highest recorded position #4 among boys in Norway in 1989, across a record running 1955–2025.

• Stephen

  Highest recorded position #4 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1983, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Anette

  Highest recorded position #5 among girls in Norway in 1982, across a record running 1947–2024.

• Lauren

  Highest recorded position #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984, across a record running 1977–2012.

• Nicole

  Highest recorded position #5 among girls in New Zealand in 1987, across a record running 1969–2007.

• Elaine

  Highest recorded position #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1982, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Fredrik

  Highest recorded position #6 among boys in Norway in 1989, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Amy

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1983, across a record running 1975–2012.

• Christian

  Highest recorded position #7 among boys in Norway in 1983, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Melissa

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1967–2002.

• Espen

  Highest recorded position #8 among boys in Norway in 1982, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Kristy

  Highest recorded position #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1980, across a record running 1974–1992.

• Nicholas

  Highest recorded position #8 among boys in New Zealand in 1983, across a record running 1954–2011.

• Hanne

  Highest recorded position #9 among girls in Norway in 1987, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Øyvind

  Highest recorded position #9 among boys in Norway in 1980, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Kim

  Highest recorded position #10 among boys in Norway in 1987, across a record running 1951–2023.

• Nathan

  Highest recorded position #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1981, across a record running 1969–2018.

• Danielle

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1987, across a record running 1967–2002.

• Erin

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984, across a record running 1977–2011.

• Kate

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1986, across a record running 1973–2008.

• Kevin

  Highest recorded position #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1987, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Mari

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in Norway in 1989, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Timothy

  Highest recorded position #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1984, across a record running 1952–2005.

• Alexander

  Highest recorded position #12 among boys in Norway in 1987, across a record running 1948–2025.

• Adam

  Highest recorded position #13 among boys in New Zealand in 1986, across a record running 1965–2023.

• Erik

  Highest recorded position #15 among boys in Norway in 1981, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Natalie

  Highest recorded position #16 among girls in New Zealand in 1984, across a record running 1965–2014.

• Barry

  Highest recorded position #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1985, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Nicola

  Highest recorded position #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1986, across a record running 1964–2024.

• Aaron

  Highest recorded position #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1986, across a record running 1969–2019.

• Darren

  Highest recorded position #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1988, across a record running 1966–2025.

• Joseph

  Highest recorded position #18 among boys in New Zealand in 1988, across a record running 1954–2023.

• Kine

  Highest recorded position #18 among girls in Norway in 1986, across a record running 1966–2025.

• Øystein

  Highest recorded position #18 among boys in Norway in 1981, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Jon

  Highest recorded position #19 among boys in Norway in 1982, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Renee

  Highest recorded position #19 among girls in New Zealand in 1985, across a record running 1975–2003.

• Vegard

  Highest recorded position #19 among boys in Norway in 1987, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Megan

  Highest recorded position #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1987, across a record running 1958–2004.

• Richard

  Highest recorded position #20 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1986, across a record running 1964–2025.