Let's face it. If you were born in the generation 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 follows that this timeline has much to do with popular names from the 1970s.

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

  • The Disco movement;
  • Bell Bottoms and Big Hair Fads, including the “Mullet;”
  • and the most important factor: the commencement of the infamous Vietnam War.

Examination of Some 1970s Name Favorites

Leading 1970s boy names: There appears to have been a continuance of the 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. However, many of the others 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, most 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, Jayden (both genders), Emily, and Ashley which all seemed 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
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
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
31KennethCynthia
32JonathanLori
33StephenRachel
34ShawnApril
35AaronMaria
36AdamWendy
37PatrickCrystal
38JustinStacy
39SeanErin
40EdwardJamie
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
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
61RaymondDeborah
62TroyTanya
63JerrySharon
64SamuelDonna
65FrankAmber
66JesseEmily
67JefferyLinda
68JuanRobin
69TerryKathleen
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
70CoreyLeslie
71PhillipChristy
72MarcusKristen
73DerekCatherine
74RodneyKristin
75JoelMisty
76CarlosBarbara
77RandyHeidi
78JacobNancy
79JamieCheryl
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
80TonyTheresa
81RussellBrandy
82BrentAlicia
83AntonioVeronica
84BillyGina
85DerrickJacqueline
86KyleRhonda
87ErikAnna
88JohnnyRenee
89MarcMegan
90CarlTamara
Rank 1970s Boy Names 1970s Girl Names
91PhilipMelinda
92RogerKathryn
93BobbyDebra
94BrettSherry
95DannyAllison
96CurtisValerie
97JonDiana
98VincentPaula
99CoryKristina
100JimmyAnn

Top 100 Baby Names by Decade

Looking for other baby names?

Simply click the baby name letter or enter the idea you have into the search box below!

Girls Names

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Boys Names

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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