Home

 › 

Baby Names

 › 

Most Popular Baby Names by Year

 › 

Top 100 Baby Names for the 1970s

orange crew-neck shirt

Top 100 Baby Names for the 1970s

If you were born in the 1965 through mid-1980's, you are just past the cusp of the “Baby Boomers” generation that ended circa 1965. Your official generation moniker is “Generation X.”

Many parents of Generation X hailed from the Baby Boomer generation. Hence, it makes sense that generation has much to do with popular names from the 1970s.

The “flower child” of the 70's named many babies in that decade. Here are some additional factors that likely affected baby names in the 1970s:

  • The Disco movement;
  • Bell Bottoms and Big Hair Fads, including the “Mullet;”
  • and possibly the most important factor: the infamous Vietnam War.
Try Home Chef - Family Meals Made Easy
  • 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
  • Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
  • Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Examination of Some 1970s Name Favorites

Leading 1970s boy names: There appears to have been a continuance of strong traditional names with male babies. Many of the top ten hail from centuries ago and/or Biblical times; strong examples are Michael, David, William, Joseph, Robert, Daniel, and Thomas.

Leading 1970s girl names: Ironically, it would seem that not as many girls' names are as traditional and orthodox- with the exception of Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Mary, which are three continuing mainstays that carried over from previous eras. Many of the other popular names are of a more “creative” and “shiny” disco era, namely: Nicole, Michelle, Jennifer, Lisa, Amanda, and Jessica.

Top 100 Baby Names for the 1970s

Origins of 1970s Baby Names

One could explore other rationales for the origins of these popular names, but in most cases, baby names from the 70s were derived from ancestors' names and from current fads and trends. Later decades would see a surge in rhyming two-syllable names such as Aiden, Hayden, Caden, Brayden, and Jayden (both genders), which all seem to have come from just creative ruminations and pursuits.

Rank1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
1MichaelJennifer
2ChristopherAmy
3JasonMelissa
4DavidMichelle
5JamesKimberly
6JohnLisa
7RobertAngela
8BrianHeather
9WilliamStephanie
10MatthewNicole

©alinabuphoto/Shutterstock.com

Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
11JosephJessica
12DanielElizabeth
13KevinRebecca
14EricKelly
15JeffreyMary
16RichardChristina
17ScottAmanda
18MarkJulie
19StevenSarah
20ThomasLaura
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
21TimothyShannon
22AnthonyChristine
23CharlesTammy
24JoshuaTracy
25RyanKaren
26JeremyDawn
27PaulSusan
28AndrewAndrea
29GregoryTina
30ChadPatricia

©PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay – License

Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
31KennethCynthia
32JonathanLori
33StephenRachel
34ShawnApril
35AaronMaria
36AdamWendy
37PatrickCrystal
38JustinStacy
39SeanErin
40EdwardJamie

©thedanw / Pixabay – License

Try Home Chef - Family Meals Made Easy
  • 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
  • Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
  • Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
41ToddCarrie
42DonaldTiffany
43RonaldTara
44BenjaminSandra
45KeithMonica
46BryanDanielle
47GaryStacey
48JosePamela
49NathanTonya
50DouglasSara
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
51BrandonMichele
52NicholasTeresa
53GeorgeDenise
54TravisJill
55PeterKatherine
56CraigMelanie
57BradleyDana
58LarryHolly
59DennisErica
60ShaneBrenda

©smpratt90 / Pixabay – License

Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
61RaymondDeborah
62TroyTanya
63JerrySharon
64SamuelDonna
65FrankAmber
66JesseEmily
67JefferyLinda
68JuanRobin
69TerryKathleen

©Virvoreanu-Laurentiu / Pixabay – License

Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
70CoreyLeslie
71PhillipChristy
72MarcusKristen
73DerekCatherine
74RodneyKristin
75JoelMisty
76CarlosBarbara
77RandyHeidi
78JacobNancy
79JamieCheryl

©marvelmozhko / Pixabay – License

Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
80TonyTheresa
81RussellBrandy
82BrentAlicia
83AntonioVeronica
84BillyGina
85DerrickJacqueline
86KyleRhonda
87ErikAnna
88JohnnyRenee
89MarcMegan
90CarlTamara

©marvelmozhko / Pixabay – License

Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
91PhilipMelinda
92RogerKathryn
93BobbyDebra
94BrettSherry
95DannyAllison
96CurtisValerie
97JonDiana
98VincentPaula
99CoryKristina
100JimmyAnn

If you're looking for a unique name for your baby, you'll definitely want to know if the top '70s names are still popular 50 years later. Let's take a gander at where the top five boys' and girls' names from the '70s rank today.

The five most popular '70s boys' names were Michael, Christopher, Jason, David, and James. Michael retains quite a bit of popularity to this day, ranking at 26 in 2023. Christopher still keeps a spot in the Top 100, ranking at 94 in 2023. Jason isn't quite as popular anymore, ranking at 264 in 2023. David remains in the Top 50 at 45. Finally, James remains extremely popular, ranking at number nine in 2023.

For girls, the five most popular '70s names were Jennifer, Amy, Melissa, Michelle, and Kimberly. Jennifer has fallen a great deal since the '70s, ranking at 997 in 2023. Amy fairs better, ranking at 475. Melissa continues the trend of '70s girl names falling significantly in popularity, ranking at 773. Michelle only ranks five spots lower, at 778. Finally, Kimberly ranks similarly to Amy at 479.

If you want an uncommon name for your baby girl, then the top '70s girl names are certainly a great place to look!

Try Home Chef - Family Meals Made Easy
  • 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
  • Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
  • Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Top 100 Baby Names by Decade

To top