55 Baby Names for Millennials

Some names are so associated with a certain era that when you meet someone with that name, you know exactly which generation they belong to. Think Heather from Generation X, Sophia and Emma from Generation Z, or Liam and Luna from Generation Alpha.

Millennials, from 1981 to 1996, were another era with many easily identifiable names: Ashley, Amanda, Jeremy and Josh. Maybe you have one of the most iconic names of the millennium era, maybe you’re married to someone whose name appears on the list. Let’s revisit some of the most popular names among millennials—side-up, no-show socks, skinny jeans, and more. After all, there’s nothing Millennials love more than nostalgia!

Millennial Girl Names

Jessica

Jessica has been the most popular name among Millennials for most of their lives, so it had to kick off our list!

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: eyesight, visual acuity
• Alternative spellings and variations: Jessica, Jessica, Jessie, Jessie, Jessie
• Celebrity with the same name: Jessica Lange, Jessica Alba, Jessica Questain
• Peak of popularity: 1995
• interesting facts: sweet valley high schoolThe twins’ names are Jessica and Elizabeth, two popular names in the 1980s and 1990s.

Ashley

Of course, like Ashley Olsen, she’s one of the ultimate millennial icons.

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: happiness, blessing
• Alternative spellings and variations:Ashley,Ashley,Ashley
• Celebrity with the same name:Ashley Olson, Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Benson, Ashley Judd
• Peak of popularity: 1992

amanda

Chances are you know an Amanda…or seven. (Or maybe Mandy/Mandy?)

• origin:Latin
• significance: cute
• Celebrity with the same name:Amanda Seyfried, Amanda Bynes
• Peak of popularity: 1980

Lauren

If you’re looking for a great index of popular names among Millennials, look no further than MTV laguna beach and hills. Lauren Conrad was (and continues to be) a fashion icon for millennials everywhere.

• origin: Rome, Greece and Britain
• significance: Laurel plant
• Alternative spellings and variations: Loren, Lauren
• Celebrity with the same name: Lauren Conrad, Lauren Bacall, Ralph Lauren
• Peak of popularity: 1989

Taylor

You can’t list popular millennial names without mentioning Taylor, two Millennial pop icons: Taylor Swift and Taylor Henson.

• origin: French
• significance: tailor-made
• Alternative spellings and variations: Taylor, Taylor
• Celebrity with the same name:Taylor Swift, Taylor Hanson, Taylor Lautner
• Peak of popularity: 1996

Brittany

When it comes to millennials, there’s one Brittany who rules them all: Britney Spears.

• origin:Latin
• significance: from UK
• Alternative spellings and variations: britney, britney, brittany, britney
• Celebrity with the same name: Britney Spears, Brittney Snow, Britney Spencer
• Peak of popularity: 1991
• interesting facts: Brittany has lost popularity over the years, falling sharply from its peak in the early ’90s.

Courtney

Names ending with the “e” sound are very popular among millennials, including Courtney, Ashley, Brittany and Whitney.

• origin:Latin
• significance: short
• Alternative spellings and variations: Courtney, Courtney, Courtney, Courtney
• Celebrity with the same name: Courteney Cox, Kourtney Kardashian, Courtney Love
• Peak of popularity: 1995

Caitlin

Another name that immediately comes to mind for millennials is Kaitlin and all of its iterations.

• origin:Greek
• significance: pure
• Alternative spellings and variations:Caitlin,Caitlin,Caitlin,Caitlin
• Peak of popularity: 1994

morgan

Morgan peaked in 1997, but the name remains relatively popular today. It’s still in the top 250 and is a solid choice regardless of gender.

• origin: Welsh
• significance: Seaborn
• Alternative spellings and variations: Morgan, Morgan
• Celebrity with the same name: Morgan Freeman, Morgan Wallen, Morgan Fairchild
• Peak of popularity: 1997

Nicole

Both are popular No. 1 and Nicole is the middle name of this era and one of the biggest “millennial” names.

• origin: Greek, French
• significance:victory
• Alternative spellings and variations:Nicole,Nicole,Nicole
• Celebrity with the same name:Nicole Richie, Nicole Kidman
• Peak of popularity: 1982

More Millennial Girl Names

• Sarah, Tara, Kara: “Ara” names (including the author’s) were very popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
• Stephanie: Stephanie Tanner is a superstar to many millennial kids. The name peaked in 1987 but is now close to dropping out of the top 500.
• Megan: Whether you spell it Megan, Meghan, Meegan or another variation, this was a popular choice for girls in the ’80s and ’90s.
• Danielle: Danielle had its heyday around the turn of the millennium, but today the name has all but disappeared from the Top 500 list.
• Kelly: The name Kelly declined dramatically after the turn of the millennium. It has not been in the top 500 since 2017.
• Kayla: Kayla is a cute addition to the “K” names that dominate the time frame like Kaitlin, Katie, and Kristina.
• Brandy: Brandy’s “The Boy is Mine” is a classic song from the 90s – just ask any millennial!
• Christina: Christina is as popular as her male counterpart Christopher, as are variants such as Christina, Kristy, and Christine.
• crystal: Another variation of Christina, Crystal/Krystal first became popular after the popular TV series dynasty.
• chelsea: Chelsea/Chelsea has fallen significantly since its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s; it was the 15th most popular name in 1992, but as of 2023, it ranks 710th.
• Alyssa: In 1998 and 1999, Alyssa ranked as the 11th most popular choice for baby girls.
• Jasmine: Called the Princess Jasmine effect. This floral-inspired name remained popular from 1990 to 2006, never leaving the top 30.
• Alexandra: Millennials are home to many Alexes, Alis, and Allys, many of whom are either Allison or Alexandra.
• Hannah: Hannah’s popularity actually peaked after Millennials ended in 2000, but it really started to climb in 1989.
• Alison/Alison: Speaking of 1989, Alison happens to be the middle name of millennial icon Taylor Swift.
• madison: The name Madison became popular after Mermaid splash Name yourself after Madison Avenue. This is also a popular name among Generation Z.
• Brianna: An Irish name derived from Brian, Briana (or Brianna, Brianne), meaning “noble”. Indeed!
• Alicia: Alicia was in the Top 50 before the millennium era officially began, and remained there until 1989.
• Andrea: Andrea is derived from Greek and means “strong and brave” – ​​qualities many parents in the 1980s and 1990s wanted their babies to possess.

Millennial Boy Names

Christopher

chris might be this The reigning champ of Millennial boys’ names; it’s fair to say that it stayed at the top of the charts throughout the ’80s and ’90s.

• origin:Greek
• significance: bearer of christ
• Alternative spellings and variations:Christopher,Christopher,Christopher,Christopher
• Celebrity with the same nameStarring: Christopher Plummer/Christopher Meloni/Christopher Walken/Chris Pratt/Chris Penn/Chris Evans
• Peak of popularity: 1994

Joshua

Another super ’90s name, Joshua did continue to be popular after the end of the millennium era, but it’s definitely associated with that period.

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: God is salvation
• Alternative spellings and variations:Josh
• Celebrity with the same name: Josh Groban, Josh Brolin, Josh Duhamel, JC Chase
• Peak of popularity: 2006

Kyle

this may be this The most millennial name on this list, and that’s really saying something!

• origin: Scotland, Ireland
• significance: narrow, strait
• Celebrity with the same name: Kyle MacLachlan
• Peak of popularity: 1990

Nicholas

Could the Knick’s popularity among millennials be partly due to the popularity of the Backstreet Boys?

• origin:Greek
• significance: victory of the people
• Alternative spellings and variations:Nicholas,Nicholas,Nicholas
• Celebrity with the same name: Nick Jonas, Nicholas Galitzin, Nicolas Cage
• Peak of popularity: 1999

Brandon

Brandon is another name that screams millennials, peaking in 1994 and currently ranking 219th out of 1,000 boys’ names.

• origin:Irish
• significance: prince
• Celebrity with the same name: Brandon Boyd, Brandon Jenner, Brandon Lee
• Peak of popularity: 1994

Taylor

Taylor also peaked in 1994 and was just squeaking toward the end of the millennium.

• origin: French
• significance: Tiles Manufacturer
• Alternative spellings and variations:You, Tyral
• Celebrity with the same name: Tyler, the Creator, Tyler Perry
• Peak of popularity: 1994

Jordan

Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block captured the hearts of many in the early ’90s, and so does the name!

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: decline
• Celebrity with the same name: Jordan Knight, Michael Jordan
• Peak of popularity: 1997

Cody

Cody had a moment of glory in the early 1990s and reached its peak in 1993.

• origin:Irish
• significance: “The Descendants of Koda”
• Alternative spellings and variations:Cody
• Celebrity with the same name: Head coach Cody Rigsby
• Peak of popularity: 1993

Zachary

If you didn’t have a friend named Zack, did you really exist in this period?

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: remember
• Alternative spellings and variations: Zach, Zach, Zach
• Celebrity with the same name: Zach Brown, Zach Bryan
• Peak of popularity: 1994

justin

*NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake this Obsessed with so many Millennials.

• origin:Latin
• significance: justice, fairness
• Celebrity with the same name: Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake
• Peak of popularity: 1988

More Millennial Boy Names

dylan:Dylan is everything to this generation! Older Millennials Instantly Recognize Luke Perry as Dylan Beverly Hills, 90210 When Gen Z hears this name, they think of Dylan Sprouse.

Jason: Jason is popular with Gen X babies and Millennial babies alike; it peaked in 1978 and is still in the Top 200 as of 2023!

Cameron: This unisex name gives a chic and unique feel in the millennium.

Kevin: Kevin, another member of the Backstreet Boys, has been a popular boy’s name for decades. It was in the top 50 from 1952 to 2009.

Jesse: Just like Uncle Jesse Full housecertainly.

austin: Austin gave off a cool western vibe that made it stand out in the ’90s.

Ryan: Your classroom isn’t complete without Ryan or two!

Derek:Derek never this The most popular baby name, but it remained in the top 60 names until 1992.

Corey: Similar to Cody, Corey/Cory had a time in the 80s and 90s. Speaking of this name, most Millennials will immediately think of Cory Matthews Boy Meets World.

Sean/Shawn: other boy meets world Shawn and its variant Sean first became popular in the 1960s and remained in the top 100 names until 1995.

Mitchell: A spin-off of Michael, Mitchell (sometimes abbreviated to Mickey) is the first choice of many parents.

spencer: Does the name Spencer Pratt mean anything to you? If you’re a Millennial, that’s true!

Jared: Jared is another dark horse name for the Millennial generation, consistently ranking in the top 60 until peaking in 1998, two years after the generation officially ended.

Jamie: Jamie is another unisex name that suddenly became popular in the 1980s and 1990s, as a go-to name for girls and as a nickname for boys, James.