Reinventing 1980s Girls' Names: #1-#5

'Mom names' are associated with women between 25 and 50 years old. This being said, a name has to have peaked 25 years ago to be considered a 'Mom name'. Some of these names sound more like timeless classics than dated monikers, though. 

Today I go through the top 100 girls' names of the 1980s, the decade in which many Millennial moms were born. I will assess each name regarding whether they really need a reboot. I will then provide a few alternatives.
  1. Jessica (#398)-Throughout the 2010s, Jessica dropped from the top 100 to outside the top 350. Jessica was in the top 1000 most years since 1880 and has Shakespearean origins, so it will come back when it's time. Despite remaining slightly imaginable on a little girl, Jessica is, for now, dated. 
    1. Cressida (unranked)-Cressida has the same syllable pattern and "ess" sound as Jessica. Plus, Cressida connects to Shakespeare's 1602 play, Troilus and Cressida. 
    2. Estella (#731)-Vintage Estella has the same "ess" sound as Jessica in its first syllable. It is also a three-syllable name ending in "a" with literary, if not Shakespearean, roots. Estella was a character in Charles Dickens's 1860 novel, Great Expectations. 
    3. Juliet (#306)-This quirky classic connects to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This being said, it is another "J" name with Shakespearean roots. 
  2. Jennifer (#434)-Jennifer left the top 100 in the late 2000s and has since dropped out of the top 400. Even though it declined slightly slower than Jessica, Jennifer does not feel usable anymore. Besides, it entered the top 1000 for the first time under 20 years before its top 100 debut. 
    1. Endellion (unranked)-Endellion is an elaborate name, like Jennifer, that contains the "enn" sound in its first syllable. Plus, Endellion shares Jennifer's Cornish feel via the Cornish city of St. Endellion. 
    2. Guinevere (unranked)-Jennifer is the Cornish form of this similar-sounding name, which came from Arthurian legend. Guinevere can also shorten to "Gwen" or "Gwennie", which rhymes with "Jen" and "Jennie". 
    3. Juniper (#172)-Juniper has a similar three-syllable structure to Jennifer. It begins with a "j" and ends in "er", along with a short "i" in the middle. Plus, "Junie" is structurally similar to "Jennie". 
  3. Amanda (#447)-Amanda was a top 100 hit from 1971 to 2005. Since then, it has dropped to the low 400s. Amanda might still work for a little girl since it was always in the top 500. Girls born today can go by "Amanda" in full instead of shortening it to "Mandy". However, parents might still want something fresher. 
    1. Alana (#206)-Alana has a similar structure to Amanda. It starts with "a", contains "an", and ends in "a". This being said, its similar sound outweighs Alana's relative newcomer status. 
    2. Lucinda (unranked)-Like Amanda, Lucinda is a quirky classic that connects to literature from the 17th century. Lucinda is structurally similar to Amanda through its heavy emphasis on the middle syllable and "da" ending. 
    3. Matilda (#478)-Matilda has the same three-syllable pattern as Amanda, containing an "m" and short "a" sound at the beginning and ending in "da". Plus, Matilda has Amanda's quirky classic style. It's traditional, but more bold than ordinary. 
  4. Ashley (#154)-Ashley was one of the first surname-names that became popular for girls. Even though it has only dropped to the 100s since leaving the top 100 in 2016, Ashley feels too tied to the 1980s to work for a little girl today. It rose dramatically in use during that decade, jumping from outside the top 25 to the top 10 within just two years. 
    1. Ainsley (#354)-Parents looking for another "a" name ending in "ley" should consider Ainsley. It is another unisex surname-name that contains the "s" sound. 
    2. Oakley (#281)-Ashley is a surname with natural connections through its "Ash" syllable. The same thing can be said about Oakley and its "Oak" syllable. Plus, like Ashley, Oakley feels unisex in style. 
    3. Shiloh (#452)-Shiloh is a two-syllable name that shares Ashley's unisex style despite being a Biblical place name. Plus, Shiloh is similar to Ashley in sound. They both contain "sh" in their first syllables along with mid-"l" sounds. 
  5. Sarah (#87)-A timeless classic that ranked within the top 100 most years since 1880, there is no need to reboot Sarah. It will always work for a little girl. Yet, because it's been popular for so long, many parents would prefer something fresher. 
    1. Esther (#153)-Parents seeking a Biblical name that is just as classic as Sarah but not always common should consider Esther. It is another two-syllable name with Sarah's "s-r" pattern. Esther contains Sarah's silent "h" as well. 
    2. Rosa (#639)-Just have the "s" and "r" switch places, and you get another timeless classic that ends in "a". Rosa ranked within the top 200 names through the 1960s and shows no signs of dropping below the 600s. 
    3. Selah (#428)-Selah makes an obvious substitute for Sarah through its structural similarity. It is a five-letter Biblical name starting with "s" and ending in "ah". 
Which of these names would you use as they are? Which ones would you reboot?

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