
Most popular boy names in the 80s in Iowa
Most popular boy names in the 80s in Iowa
Known for the emergence of MTV, the rise of neon, and the invention of the mixtape, the 1980s were certainly a rockin' era in American history. New economic policies were introduced, the news network CNN launched, and, much less enjoyable, Wall Street crashed on the infamous Black Monday—the worst one-day decline in American stock market history. Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated by President Ronald Reagan as the first female Supreme Court justice, the Cold War saw the beginning of the end as the Berlin Wall began to fall, and millions watched in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on live television.
Among all the big hair, Rubix cubes, and shoulder pads, however, there were still plenty of babies being born during this defining time. And with celebrities like Michael J. Fox and Robert Palmer reaching their peak fame during the ‘80s, it's no surprise that many parents chose to name their kids after them.
To see just how popular these names were, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the 80s in Iowa using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Just like scrunchies and PAC MAN, Americans can still hold onto some of the best aspects of the ‘80s, including baby names (some things never get old). So whether you're welcoming a new little one into the world this year or just curious, these are the 100 most popular baby names of the 1980s in Iowa.

#50. Brett
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,024
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 48 (#517 (tie) most common name, -95.3% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #76
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 41,268
#49. Jordan
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,046
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 467 (#88 most common name, -55.4% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #59
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 57,125
#48. Lucas
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,056
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,049 (#21 (tie) most common name, -0.7% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #109
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 26,025
#47. Cory
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,078
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5 (#1019 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #69
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 44,343

#46. Patrick
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,079
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 206 (#197 (tie) most common name, -80.9% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #37
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 111,365

#45. Jared
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,094
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 76 (#413 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #57
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 60,286

#44. Derek
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,331
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 121 (#303 most common name, -90.9% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #52
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 72,893

#43. Jesse
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,487
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 173 (#233 (tie) most common name, -88.4% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #48
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 85,897
#42. Bradley
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,494
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 150 (#262 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #53
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 69,334
#41. Kevin
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,575
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 236 (#178 most common name, -85.0% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #23
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 188,638

#40. Mark
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,584
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 138 (#276 (tie) most common name, -91.3% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 129,371

#39. Chad
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,619
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 17 (#714 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #54
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 69,040

#38. William
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,715
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,650 (#2 most common name, -3.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 248,240
#37. Steven
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,718
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 154 (#256 most common name, -91.0% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,405
#36. Cody
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,733
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 158 (#251 (tie) most common name, -90.9% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #58
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 60,173
#35. Thomas
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,778
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 651 (#59 most common name, -63.4% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 177,743

#34. Scott
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,919
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 62 (#452 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 108,165
#33. Jonathan
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 1,976
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 550 (#73 most common name, -72.2% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 229,906

#32. Jeffrey
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,034
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 80 (#395 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 144,781

#31. Anthony
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,061
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 620 (#66 most common name, -69.9% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 211,804

#30. Timothy
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,118
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 190 (#220 most common name, -91.0% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 172,811
#29. Zachary
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,121
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 408 (#103 most common name, -80.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #43
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 101,809
#28. Jeremy
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,201
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115 (#311 (tie) most common name, -94.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 153,418

#27. Dustin
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,221
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 54 (#482 (tie) most common name, -97.6% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #44
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 97,301

#26. Travis
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,233
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 81 (#391 (tie) most common name, -96.4% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #42
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 102,915

#25. Robert
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,374
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 419 (#101 most common name, -82.4% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,598

#24. Aaron
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,493
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 466 (#89 (tie) most common name, -81.3% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 138,343

#23. Tyler
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,658
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 523 (#75 most common name, -80.3% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #47
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 86,422
#22. Kyle
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,752
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 164 (#244 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #30
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,910

#21. James
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,782
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,161 (#14 most common name, -58.3% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 356,362
#20. John
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,845
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 697 (#50 most common name, -75.5% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 321,034
#19. Brian
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,933
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 122 (#301 most common name, -95.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 233,976
#18. Nathan
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,954
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 497 (#82 most common name, -83.2% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #39
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 105,962
#17. Eric
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 2,957
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 189 (#221 most common name, -93.6% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 204,199

#16. Brandon
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,003
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 237 (#175 (tie) most common name, -92.1% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 232,173

#15. Benjamin
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,089
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,229 (#11 most common name, -60.2% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 141,341
#14. Jacob
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,148
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,112 (#16 (tie) most common name, -64.7% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #35
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 124,186

#13. David
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,454
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 717 (#47 most common name, -79.2% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 383,610
#12. Joseph
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,456
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 864 (#32 most common name, -75.0% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 299,367

#11. Jason
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,590
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 262 (#158 most common name, -92.7% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 292,016

#10. Daniel
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 3,664
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 793 (#41 most common name, -78.4% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 345,414

#9. Adam
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,394
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 317 (#137 most common name, -92.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 195,049

#8. Nicholas
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,412
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 376 (#117 most common name, -91.5% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 223,293

#7. Justin
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,441
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 216 (#193 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 289,755
#6. Andrew
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 4,981
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 808 (#39 most common name, -83.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 285,013

#5. Christopher
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,020
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 502 (#80 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 554,793
#4. Ryan
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 5,076
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 547 (#74 most common name, -89.2% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 278,848
#3. Joshua
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,094
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 621 (#65 most common name, -89.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 396,533

#2. Michael
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,591
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 869 (#30 most common name, -86.8% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 663,592

#1. Matthew
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 6,922
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 680 (#53 most common name, -90.2% compared to the 80s)
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 1980 to 1989: 458,894


