100 most popular 1989 girl names

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In 1989, the United States was buzzing with energy, and the population clock ticked up to 246,819,230.

Hold on to your scrunchies, because included in that total were about four million adorable, bouncy, brand-new babies! Half of those cuties were girls, and would you believe that Jessica stole the show?

A whopping 47,885 baby girls were named Jessica that year, making it the chart-topping, most fabulous name for little ladies. “Gift” is what the name means, and let’s be honest, to their parents, each one of those Jessicas was a gift to the world.

Among the 1989 debutantes were some names that might sound familiar. Yep, Taylor Swift, Lily Collins, Nina Dobrev, Phoebe Tonkin, and Lily James all said their first hellos in ’89. While they’ve gone on to grace magazine covers and dazzle us on screen, they share their birth year with countless other amazing girls.

More popular 1989 girl names like Ashley, Brittany, and Amanda were also super hot that year, capturing the zeitgeist of the late ’80s. Each name has its own special meaning and origin, from the ash tree clearing that “Ashley” signifies to the noble love encapsulated in “Amanda.”

So, whether you’re an ’89 baby or just love all things retro, this list of names offers a vibrant glimpse into the tastes and trends of a truly memorable year!

100 most popular 1989 girl names — 1989 issue of Soap Opera Digest magazine with actresses and their babies

Listed and ranked by popularity: The 100 most popular baby names for girls born in 1989

Jessica: Derived from Hebrew, meaning “gift.”
Ashley: English origin, meaning “ash tree clearing.”
Brittany: Geographical name, referring to the region in France.
Amanda: Latin origin, meaning “worthy of love.”
Sarah: Hebrew origin, meaning “princess.”
Samantha: Possibly derived from Samuel and means “told by God” in Hebrew.
Jennifer: Welsh origin, derived from “Gwenhwyfar,” meaning “fair one.”
Stephanie: From the Greek name “Stephanos,” meaning “crown.”
Lauren: Derived from Latin, a feminine form of “Laurentius,” meaning “from Laurentum.”
Elizabeth: Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my oath.”
Megan: Welsh origin, diminutive of “Margaret,” meaning “pearl.”
Nicole: French feminine form of Nicholas, meaning “victory of the people.”
Emily: Latin origin, meaning “striving” or “eager.”
Amber: English origin, named after the fossilized tree resin.
Heather: English origin, named after the flowering plant.
Tiffany: English origin, derived from the Greek “Theophania,” meaning “manifestation of God.”
Danielle: French feminine form of Daniel, meaning “God is my judge.”
Rachel: Hebrew origin, meaning “ewe.”
Melissa: Greek origin, meaning “honey bee.”
Kayla: Derived from Hebrew, possibly meaning “crown.”
Courtney: French origin, meaning “short nose.”
Michelle: French feminine form of Michel, meaning “who is like God?”
Christina: Latin origin, feminine form of Christian, meaning “follower of Christ.”
Rebecca: Hebrew origin, meaning “captivating.”
Laura: Latin origin, meaning “laurel.”
Katherine: Greek origin, meaning “pure.”
Chelsea: Geographical name, referring to a place in England.
Kimberly: English origin, meaning “from the wood of the royal forest.”
Sara: Variant of Sarah, Hebrew origin, meaning “princess.”
Jasmine: Named after the jasmine flower, from Persian “yasamin.”
Kelsey: English origin, meaning “ship’s victory.”
Crystal: English origin, named after the clear, colorless mineral.
Alyssa: English origin, derived from the flower alyssum.
Erica: Feminine form of Eric, meaning “eternal ruler.”
Amy: French origin, meaning “beloved.”
Kristen: Derived from Christian, meaning “follower of Christ.”
Kelly: Irish origin, meaning “war.”
Mary: Hebrew origin, meaning “bitter” or “wished-for child.”
Andrea: Feminine form of Andrew, meaning “manly” or “brave.”
Erin: Irish origin, referring to the island of Ireland.
Brittney: Variant of Brittany, referring to the region in France.
Hannah: Hebrew origin, meaning “grace.”
Alexandra: Greek origin, meaning “defender of mankind.”
Victoria: Latin origin, meaning “victory.”
Katie: Diminutive of Katherine, meaning “pure.”
Allison: Variant of Alice, meaning “noble.”
Angela: Feminine form of Angelos, meaning “messenger” or “angel.”
Lindsey: English origin, meaning “island of linden trees.”
Caitlin: Irish origin, form of Catherine, meaning “pure.”
Vanessa: Created by Jonathan Swift, possibly derived from the genus of butterfly.
Anna: Hebrew origin, meaning “grace.”
Jamie: Feminine form of James, meaning “supplanter.”
Alicia: Spanish form of Alice, meaning “noble.”
Cassandra: Greek origin, meaning “she who entangles men.”
Lisa: Diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning “God is my oath.”
Maria: Latin form of Mary, meaning “wished-for child” or “bitter.”
Whitney: English origin, meaning “white island.”
Kathryn: Variant of Katherine, meaning “pure.”
Christine: French form of Christina, meaning “follower of Christ.”
Kristin: Variant of Kristen, meaning “follower of Christ.”
Shannon: Named after the River Shannon in Ireland.
Natalie: Latin origin, meaning “birth” or “Christmas Day.”
Lindsay: Variant of Lindsey, meaning “island of linden trees.”
Jacqueline: French feminine form of Jacques, meaning “supplanter.”
Kristina: Variant of Christina, meaning “follower of Christ.”
April: Named after the fourth month of the year, derived from Latin “aperire,” meaning “to open.”
Catherine: Variant of Katherine, meaning “pure.”
Monica: Latin origin, possibly meaning “to advise” or “solitary.”
Morgan: Welsh origin, meaning “sea-born” or “sea-circle.”
Tara: Irish origin, named after a hill in Ireland.
Jenna: Variant of Jenny, which is a diminutive of Jennifer, meaning “fair one.”
Jordan: Named after the River Jordan, meaning “to descend” or “flow down.”
Erika: Variant of Erica, meaning “eternal ruler.”
Brooke: Named after a small stream.
Taylor: English origin, occupational name for a tailor.
Katelyn: Variant of Caitlin, meaning “pure.”
Brianna: Feminine form of Brian, meaning “high” or “noble.”
Julie: French form of Julia, meaning “youthful.”
Holly: Named after the holly tree.
Meghan: Variant of Megan, meaning “pearl.”
Marissa: Latin origin, meaning “of the sea.”
Krystal: Variant of Crystal, named after the clear, colorless mineral.
Leah: Hebrew origin, meaning “weary.”
Cynthia: Greek origin, named after the mountain where Artemis was born.
Veronica: Latin form of Berenice, meaning “true image” or “bringer of victory.”
Diana: Roman goddess of the hunt and moon.
Natasha: Russian form of Natalie, meaning “birth” or “Christmas Day.”
Melanie: Greek origin, meaning “black” or “dark.”
Patricia: Feminine form of Patrick, meaning “nobleman.”
Kathleen: Irish form of Katherine, meaning “pure.”
Bianca: Italian origin, meaning “white.”
Alexis: Greek origin, meaning “helper” or “defender.”
Molly: Diminutive of Mary, meaning “bitter” or “wished-for child.”
Abigail: Hebrew origin, meaning “father’s joy.”
Kaitlyn: Variant of Caitlin, meaning “pure.”
Julia: Latin origin, meaning “youthful.”
Margaret: Greek origin, meaning “pearl.”
Brandi: Variant of Brandy, named after the alcoholic beverage.
Kendra: Feminine form of Kenneth, meaning “handsome.”
Kaitlin: Variant of Caitlin, meaning “pure.”