Most Popular Baby Names Of The 1970s

The top 100 girls’ and boys’ names across 1970–1979. Explore their meanings, histories, and popularity today.

Name & meaning	Babies 2025 · rank	5-year rank movement	Peak year
Jonathan Yahweh has given	3,822#89	Down 19 rank positions in five years	1988
Stephen Crown; wreath	829#383	Down 61 rank positions in five years	1952
Kimberly From Kimberley; field of Cyneburga, Cynebald, or Cynemær	1,009#303	Down 117 rank positions in five years	1970
Donna Lady; also a feminine form of Don or Donald	98#1,965	Down 419 rank positions in five years	1959
Benjamin Son of the right hand or son of the south	9,762#11	Down 4 rank positions in five years	1989
Samuel Name of God; also interpreted as God has heard	8,334#18	Up 7 rank positions in five years	2001
Michelle Who is like God?	661#465	Down 129 rank positions in five years	1969
Larry From Laurentum, through Laurence	198#1,085	Down 247 rank positions in five years	1947
Laura Laurel	805#379	Down 23 rank positions in five years	1964
Amanda Lovable; worthy of love	601#493	Down 49 rank positions in five years	1987
Justin Just; lawful; upright	1,512#233	Down 67 rank positions in five years	1988
Raymond Counsel + protection	807#395	Down 84 rank positions in five years	1924
Scott Person from Scotland; Gaelic speaker	561#534	Up 30 rank positions in five years	1971
Brandon Hill covered with broom	1,326#261	Down 96 rank positions in five years	1992
Melissa Bee	747#420	Down 71 rank positions in five years	1979
Rebecca Probably join, tie, or snare	872#350	Down 101 rank positions in five years	1981
Stephanie Crown; wreath	543#557	Down 118 rank positions in five years	1990
Deborah Bee	313#864	Up 40 rank positions in five years	1954
Sharon Plain	179#1,256	Down 112 rank positions in five years	1947
Kathleen Traditionally pure, through Katherine; deeper origin disputed	201#1,156	Down 151 rank positions in five years	1951
Gregory Watchful; alert	493#593	Down 158 rank positions in five years	1962
Cynthia Woman from Cynthus	247#1,014	Down 141 rank positions in five years	1957
Amy Beloved	1,200#257	Down 42 rank positions in five years	1975
Patrick Nobleman; patrician	1,495#235	Down 30 rank positions in five years	1964
Angela Messenger; angel	765#408	Down 157 rank positions in five years	1971
Catherine Traditionally pure; deeper origin disputed	972#314	Down 47 rank positions in five years	1956
Katherine Traditionally pure; deeper origin disputed	1,670#186	Down 50 rank positions in five years	1990
Dennis Of Dionysus	381#707	Down 60 rank positions in five years	1952
Jerry Several name families: Gerald, Jeremy, Jerome, or Geraldine	262#907	Down 306 rank positions in five years	1947
Aaron Meaning uncertain; Hebrew Aharon name family	4,041#80	Down 17 rank positions in five years	1989
Brenda Fire, torch, or sword, through Brandr; also a feminine form of Brendan	139#1,527	Down 266 rank positions in five years	1957
Pamela Possibly all sweetness; a literary creation	82#2,251	Down 577 rank positions in five years	1954
Nicole Victory of the people	803#383	Down 117 rank positions in five years	1985
Jose He will add; God will add, through Joseph	3,678#95	Down 1 rank positions in five years	2002
Peter Stone; rock	1,954#187	Up 28 rank positions in five years	1957
Nathan He gave	4,975#63	Down 8 rank positions in five years	2004
Christine Christian woman; follower of Christ	176#1,274	Down 259 rank positions in five years	1952
Adam Man; human	3,501#101	Down 4 rank positions in five years	1984
Rachel Ewe	1,225#250	Down 24 rank positions in five years	1985
Maria Meaning uncertain; Latin form in the Mary and Miriam family	2,887#87	Up 22 rank positions in five years	1964
Douglas Dark river	308#807	Down 70 rank positions in five years	1957
Debra Bee, through Deborah	31#4,477	Down 1,018 rank positions in five years	1955
Heather Heather plant	177#1,264	Up 179 rank positions in five years	1975
Julie Form of Julia, from Roman Julius; deeper meaning uncertain	308#873	Down 258 rank positions in five years	1958
Carl Man, through Karl	187#1,134	Down 321 rank positions in five years	1956
Kyle Narrows; channel; strait	594#509	Down 196 rank positions in five years	1990
Christina Christian woman; follower of Christ	352#770	Down 163 rank positions in five years	1985
Kelly Meaning uncertain; from Irish Ceallach and its surname family	319#852	Down 106 rank positions in five years	1977
Ann Favor; grace, in the Hannah family	225#1,076	Up 29 rank positions in five years	1957
Kathryn Form of Katherine; traditionally associated with pure, deeper origin uncertain	381#729	Down 204 rank positions in five years	1952

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Year by year in the 1970s

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

This list includes the top 100 girls’ and boys’ names by total use across 1970–1979. Table birth counts and ranks show 2025, and rank movement covers the latest five years. Search, filters, and sorting stay within this decade’s name list.

Counts are based on U.S. births and are tracked separately for girls and boys. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year aren’t published for that year, so totals here are a floor — the shortfall is largest in the sparse early years.