M: Don’t put this into long-term memory. I was born in December 1979. First, what generation does this put me into, in terms of baby boomer, Gen Z, etc. Second, there’s a more specific sub generational definition that I can’t remember the name of, but it defined people who were born around my age, the ones who were the first ones to grow up with PCs and personal electronics of that nature. Do you know what that term was? I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more than one, but I think I’ll know the one I’m thinking of when I see it

G: TLDR:

You’re Generation X, technically—though very close to the Millennial edge.
The sub-generation you're thinking of is most likely the Xennials.

1. Generation Category

Born in December 1979, you are typically categorized as Generation X (born roughly 1965–1980), but you're right on the cusp of:

Gen X: 1965–1980 (sometimes ends at 1979)
Millennials / Gen Y: 1981–1996 (some models start as early as 1980)

So you're part of a transitional group, often debated in generational models.

2. Likely Sub-Generational Term: Xennials

You’re almost certainly thinking of:

Xennials: A microgeneration between Gen X and Millennials, typically born 1977–1983.
- Characterized as analog childhood + digital adulthood.
- First to grow up with home computers, BBS systems, and early internet access in adolescence or early adulthood.
- Remember life before the internet but adapted to it early and fluently.

Other Possible Terms (but less likely):

Oregon Trail Generation: Another name for Xennials, often U.S.-centric.
Microgeneration 1977–1983 (unnamed in some models, just noted demographically)
Generation Catalano (more niche/cultural reference, tied to 1990s media)

Let me know if that hits the mark.

G: Yes—"Xennials" is the most widely used term, but there are a few synonyms or near-synonyms that refer to the same 1977–1983-ish group. Here are the main ones you might be thinking of:

🔹 Oregon Trail Generation

Coined by Anna Garvey (~2015)
Refers to the cohort who played the Oregon Trail computer game in school.
Strong emphasis on early exposure to educational technology and PCs.
Often considered interchangeable with Xennials.

🔹 The MTV Generation

Sometimes used more broadly, but often includes late Gen X and early Xennials.
Focus on those shaped by 1980s–90s youth culture and music television.

🔹 Generation Catalano

Cultural micro-label based on My So-Called Life character Jordan Catalano.
Refers to those shaped by 1990s media, teen angst, and pre-internet adolescence.
More niche, but overlaps with Xennial vibes.

🔹 The Oregon Trail Cohort or Analog Childhood–Digital Adulthood

Descriptive rather than named, but used in sociology and journalism.
Emphasizes the blend of pre-internet childhood with early-adopter adulthood.

🔹 Cusper / Cuspers

General term for people born at the edges of generations.
You might have heard someone say "Gen X/Millennial Cusper" instead of "Xennial."

If "Xennials" doesn’t ring the bell but “Oregon Trail Generation” does, that’s probably the one you're after.