Comfort-TV Baby Names '80s And '90s Kids Will Remember

There's nothing cozier or more nostalgic than rewatching a show from your childhood. If you're trying to choose a baby name — even better. From "Cheers" to "Full House," these beloved classics can be a surprisingly fun way to find inspiration for your new bundle of joy, and there's something comforting about paying homage to what now feels like a simpler time.

While we're not short of content to watch these days, the '80s and '90s were an era when everyone watched whatever was on TV and bonded over it the next day. Even if their school friends don't fully grasp that your little Taylor or Tanner isn't named after a person, but in fact an entire family, it's a safe bet that their parents will get the reference. Plus, you'll have a built-in excuse to return to the glory days of the TGIF and SNICK TV marathon line-ups as soon as your child is old enough for some snuggly screen time as a family.

You could probably pick a name from any of "The Golden Girls" for an instant jolt of comfort. Blanche, Dorothy, and Rose are all classics, but there's something extra special about Sophia. Played by Estelle Getty, Sophia was always on hand with her zingy one-liners and blunt yet endearing honesty. This makes sense, seeing as the name Sophia is Greek in origin and means "wisdom" or "knowledge." Plus, Sophia has only grown in popularity over the years. Today, the U.S.  Social Security Administration lists it as the fifth most popular name.

Although Sam is a nod to the smooth and charming bartender from "Cheers" who always made us laugh, the moniker is a perfect unisex option as well. It can be a nickname for Samuel or Samira, or just as easily stand on its own. It also means "name of God" and "of the sun."

The character of Mona, played by Katherine Helmond, on "Who's the Boss?" was Angela's bold and flamboyant mother whose feistiness only added to the heart of the show. But as a name, it's slightly more subdued. Irish in origin, Mona means "noble good," and it might be a classic worth bringing back. In the United States, Mona peaked around 1950, when it was No. 230 on the baby name list for girls — but it hasn't held an officially ranked spot in the top 1,000 since 1986.

On "Family Ties," Mallory Keaton was played by Justine Bateman and known as Michael J. Fox's fashion-obsessed younger sister. She was both relatable and authentic, all while bringing effortless moments of comedy to her episodes, and her name became an instant classic. The show debuted in 1982, and in the United States during the following year, the name Mallory shot up to No. 334 on the baby name list for girls. It's had its ups and downs since then, but today, it sits comfortably at No. 372.

If you were a kid in the '80s and '90s, then you know all about how Leonardo DiCaprio got his first role in "Growing Pains," playing Luke Brower, a down-on-his-luck student in Mike Seaver's class. Even at the time, there was something alluring about both DiCaprio and his character, but now, it's fun to revisit and see how his career began. The name is Greek in origin, meaning either "from Luciana" or "light."

Whether you're looking at Kirstie Alley's character on "Cheers" or the beloved Aunt Becky from "Full House," played by Lori Loughlin, Rebecca is a definite classic. While Alley's Rebecca was tough yet slightly chaotic on "Cheers," Loughlin's Rebecca was warm and nurturing, filling a maternal role for the Tanner girls. With both Hebrew and biblical roots, the name means "to bind or tie," and has been reliably popular for decades. While Rebecca hasn't broken back into the top 10 since the '70s, the name still manages to stay consistently relevant, toeing the line between popular and classic.

As a name, Laura's popularity has waxed and waned over the last century, hitting its peak in the late '60s and early '70s, but it's slowly inching back up in the rankings — currently sitting at 379. On "Family Matters," Laura Winslow was the object of Steve Urkel's affection as well as the smart and studious middle child, who grew from sassy teen to ambitious woman during the course of the show. Her scholarly evolution also pairs perfectly with the name's Latin and ancient Roman roots.

On "Home Improvement," Randy Taylor was played by tween heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas — and who doesn't love the chance to introduce their kids to their first-ever childhood crush? But while everyone loved JTT, the name Randy never took off the same way. It had its heyday of popularity for a few decades, climbing into the top 30 in 1956 and staying in the top 100 until the early '80s.  It also works well as a girl's name, though it's more commonly spelled as Randi. In both cases, it has German, British, and Latin origins, and can mean "wolf shield."

Vivian Banks from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" is Will's firm but fair Aunt Viv, winning everyone over with her balance of warmth and wisdom. These days, the name Vivian is on the rise again. Since 2014, Vivian has landed in the top 100. The name has both Latin and Irish roots and is said to mean "lively," "blessed," and "melodious." 

Alicia was a popular name in the '90s, but TGIF fans will connect its common nickname "Al" with the tomboy sister in the show "Step by Step." Scrappy and confident, Al was totally comfortable being herself. And if it's the nickname you're after for your daughter, you have a whole host of options — from Alexa to Alberta to Alessandra. In fact, Alicia is a variation of Alice — another possible long-form option for Al — and means "noble" and "exalted." Alternatively, Al on its own is said to also mean "harmonious."