55 Millennial Baby Names That May or May Not Be Cheugy Now
Fact checked by Elizabeth BrownfieldFact checked by Elizabeth Brownfield
There are some first names that are so tied to a certain era that when you meet someone with that moniker, you know exactly which generation they belong to. Think Gen X Heather, Gen Z Sophia and Emma, or Gen Alpha’s Liam and Luna.
The millennial generation, which spans from 1981 to 1996, is another era with a lot of easily identified names: Ashley, Amanda, Jeremy, and Josh among them. Maybe you have one of the most indicative names of the millennial era, or perhaps you’re married to someone whose name lands on the list. Let’s revisit some of the most popular millennial names—side parts, no-show socks, skinny jeans, and all. After all, there’s nothing millennials love more than a little nostalgia!
Although many baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in selecting names. It's important to choose a name you feel fits your child best.
Parents
Millennial Names for Girls
Jessica
Jessica was the number-one most popular name for most of the millennial era, so it has to kick off our list!
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Vision, sight
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jessikah, Jessika, Jessie, Jess, Jessi
Famous Namesakes: Jessica Lange, Jessica Alba, Jessica Chastain
Peak Popularity: 1995
Fun Fact: Sweet Valley High’s twins were named Jessica and Elizabeth—two popular names in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Ashley
As in Ashley Olsen, one of the ultimate millennial icons, of course.
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Happy, blessing
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ashlie, Ashlee, Ashly
Famous Namesakes: Ashley Olsen, Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Benson, Ashley Judd
Peak Popularity: 1992
Amanda
Chances are you know an Amanda...or seven. (Or maybe a Mandi/Mandy?)
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Loveable
Famous Namesakes: Amanda Seyfried, Amanda Bynes
Peak Popularity: 1980
Lauren
If you’re looking for a great index of popular millennial names, look no further than MTV’s Laguna Beach and The Hills. Lauren Conrad was (and continues to be) a style icon for millennials everywhere.
Origin: Roman, Greek, and British
Meaning: Laurel plant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Loren, Laurenne
Famous Namesakes: Lauren Conrad, Lauren Bacall, Ralph Lauren
Peak Popularity: 1989
Taylor
You can’t make a list of popular millennial names without mentioning Taylor, the first name of two millennial pop icons: Taylor Swift and Taylor Hanson.
Origin: French
Meaning: To tailor
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tayler, Taylar
Famous Namesakes: Taylor Swift, Taylor Hanson, Taylor Lautner
Peak Popularity: 1996
Brittany
There’s one Brittany to rule them all when it comes to millennials: Britney Spears.
Origin: Latin
Meaning: From Britain
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Britney, Brittney, Brittani, Brittney
Famous Namesakes: Britney Spears, Brittany Snow, Brittney Spencer
Peak Popularity: 1991
Fun Fact: Brittany has lost its popularity over the years, falling dramatically from its peak in the early ‘90s.
Courtney
Names that ended in an “e” sound were super trendy in the millennial generation, including Courtney, Ashley, Brittany, and Whitney.
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Short
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Courtnee, Kourtney, Courtnay, Courteney
Famous Namesakes: Courteney Cox, Kourtney Kardashian, Courtney Love
Peak Popularity: 1995
Kaitlin
Another name that instantly conjures up visions of a millennial is Kaitlin and all its iterations.
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Katelyn, Kaitlyn, Caitlyn, Caitlin
Peak Popularity: 1994
Morgan
Morgan peaked in 1997, but the name remains relatively popular today; it still ranks within the top 250 names and is a solid gender-neutral pick as well.
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Seaborn
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Morganne, Morgann
Famous Namesakes: Morgan Freeman, Morgan Wallen, Morgan Fairchild
Peak Popularity: 1997
Nicole
Both a popular first and middle name of the era, Nicole is one of the biggest “elder millennial” names.
Origin: Greek, French
Meaning: Victory
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nichole, Nikole, Nikkole
Famous Namesakes: Nicole Richie, Nicole Kidman
Peak Popularity: 1982
More Millennial Names for Girls
Sarah, Tara, Kara: “Ara” names (this writer’s included) were wildly popular in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
Stephanie: Stephanie Tanner was a superstar to many millennial kids. The name peaked in 1987 but is close to leaving the top 500 names altogether now.
Megan: Whether you spelled it Megan, Meghan, Meegan, or another variation, this was a popular choice for girls in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Danielle: Danielle had a heyday during the millennial era, but the name is nearly gone from the top 500 list today.
Kelly: The name Kelly took a nosedive after the millennial era. It hasn’t ranked in the top 500 names since 2017.
Kayla: Kayla is a cute addition to the “K” names that dominated the time frame, like Kaitlin, Katie, and Kristina.
Brandy: Brandy’s “The Boy is Mine” is a defining song of the ‘90s—just ask any millennial!
Christina: Christina was just a popular as the masculine counterpart, Christopher, as were variations like Kristina, Christy, and Christine.
Crystal: Another variation of Christina, Crystal/Krystal first became popular after the massively popular TV series Dynasty.
Chelsea: Chelsea/Chelsey has dropped pretty dramatically since her ‘80s and ‘90s heyday; it was the 15th most popular name of 1992, but as of 2023, it ranks at 710.
Alyssa: Alyssa was the 11th most popular choice for baby girls in 1998 and 1999.
Jasmine: Call it the Princess Jasmine effect. This floral-inspired name was steadily popular from 1990 to 2006, never leaving the top 30 names.
Alexandra: The millennial generation is home to lots of Alexes, Alis, and Allys, and many of them are either Allison or Alexandra.
Hannah: Hannah actually peaked in popularity in 2000, after the millennial generation ended, but it really started climbing back in 1989.
Allison/Alison: Speaking of 1989, Alison just so happens to be the middle name of millennial icon Taylor Swift.
Madison: The name Madison gained popularity after the mermaid in Splash named herself after Madison Avenue. It’s also a popular Gen Z name.
Briana: An Irish name derived from Brian, Briana (or Brianna, Brianne) means “noble.” And it really is!
Alicia: Alicia cracked the top 50 names just before the millennial era officially began and stayed there all the way through 1989. Today, however, it’s close to leaving the top 500 list entirely.
Andrea: Derived from Greek, Andrea means “strong and courageous”—a quality many parents wanted for their babies in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Millennial Names for Boys
Christopher
Chris is probably the reigning champ millennial boy name; it was consistently at the top of the charts, so to speak, for the entirety of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Bearer of Christ
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kristofer, Kristoffer, Cristofer, Chris
Famous Namesakes: Christopher Plummer, Christopher Meloni, Christopher Walken, Chris Pratt, Chris Pine, Chris Evans
Peak Popularity: 1994
Joshua
Another super-’90s name, Joshua did continue its popularity after the millennial era ended, but it’s definitely associated with that time period.
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is deliverance
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Josh
Famous Namesakes: Josh Groban, Josh Brolin, Josh Duhamel, JC Chasez
Peak Popularity: 2006
Kyle
This may be the most millennial guy name on this list, which is really saying something!
Origin: Scottish, Irish
Meaning: Narrow, strait
Famous Namesakes: Kyle McLachlan
Peak Popularity: 1990
Nicholas
Nicks abounded during the millennial era, perhaps in part due to the resounding popularity of the Backstreet Boys?
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Victory of the people
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nickolas, Nikolas, Nicolas
Famous Namesakes: Nick Jonas, Nicholas Galitzine, Nicolas Cage
Peak Popularity: 1999
Brandon
Another name that screams millennial, Brandon peaked in 1994 and currently ranks at 219 in the top 1,000 boy names.
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Prince
Famous Namesakes: Brandon Boyd, Brandon Jenner, Brandon Lee
Peak Popularity: 1994
Tyler
Tyler also peaked in 1994, just squeaking by the end of the millennial period.
Origin: French
Meaning: Tile maker
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ty, Tylar
Famous Namesakes: Tyler, the Creator, Tyler Perry
Peak Popularity: 1994
Jordan
Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block captured a lot of hearts in the early ‘90s, as did this name!
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: To descend
Famous Namesakes: Jordan Knight, Michael Jordan
Peak Popularity: 1997
Cody
Cody had a moment in the early ‘90s, peaking in 1993.
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “Descendent of Coda”
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kody
Famous Namesakes: Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby
Peak Popularity: 1993
Zachary
If you didn’t have a friend named Zack, did you really exist in this time period?
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Remember
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zac, Zach, Zak
Famous Namesakes: Zac Brown, Zach Bryan
Peak Popularity: 1994
Justin
*NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake was the crush for so many millennials.
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Just, fair
Famous Namesakes: Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake
Peak Popularity: 1988
More Millennial Names for Boys
Dylan: Dylan runs the full gamut of the generation! Elder millennials immediately think of Luke Perry as Dylan on Beverly Hills, 90210 when they hear the name, while Gen Z cusps think Dylan Sprouse.
Jason: Jason was popular for both Gen X babies and millennial babies; it peaked in 1978 and is still in the top 200 names as of 2023!
Cameron: This gender-neutral name felt chic and unique back in the millennial days.
Kevin: Another member of the Backstreet Boys, Kevin reigned as a popular boys’ name for decades. It was ranked in the top 50 names from 1952 to 2009.
Jesse: As in Uncle Jesse of Full House, of course.
Austin: Austin gave off a cool, Western-y vibe that made it stand out in the ‘90s.
Ryan: Your classroom simply wasn’t complete without a Ryan or two!
Derek: Derek was never the most popular baby name, but it hung out in the top 60 names until 1992.
Corey: Similar to Cody, Corey/Cory had a moment in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Say the name and most millennials will instantly think of Cory Matthews from Boy Meets World.
Sean/Shawn: Another Boy Meets World character, Shawn and its variation Sean initially became popular in the 1960s and stayed in the top 100 names until 1995.
Mitchell: A derivative of Michael, Mitchell (sometimes abbreviated to Mitch) was a go-to pick for many parents.
Spencer: Does the name Spencer Pratt mean anything to you? It does if you’re a millennial!
Jared: Jared is another dark horse millennial name, ranking steadily in the top 60s until it peaked in 1998, just two years after the generation was officially over.
Jamie: Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.
For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Parents.
