These Are The Top 10 Baby Names Of The 1970s. Is Yours On It?

History | Family | Did You Know

These Are The Top 10 Baby Names Of The 1970s. Is Yours On It?

Flickr/The U.S. National Archives

While some of the popular names of the 1970s echo those of the previous years, many parents got their thinking caps on and picked names that haven't cracked the top ten in decades.

Here are the ten male and female baby names that dominated during the age of disco:  

10. Nicole & Matthew

Borrowed from Greek, Nicole means "victory of the people."

The 70s was the first time in more than 50 years that Matthew cracked the top ten. The name, which means "Gift of Jehovah," is derived from Hebrew. The name gained popularity due to the bible figure Matthew the Apostle.

In some cases Matthew is an anglicization of Mathuin, an Irish name meaning "bear."

9. Stephanie & William

Stephanie, the female form of Stephen, has its roots in Greek. The name comes from Stefanos, which means "crown."

William is a name that has consistently been in the top ten for decades. The classic name means "strong-willed warrior" in Old German.

8. Heather & Brian

The use of Heather, which is a type of small shrub native to Scotland and England, as a name in the U.S. can be traced all the way back to 1852. An article in the New York Times mentions an infant by the name of Miss Heather Campbell arriving from Glasgow. Heather can also refer to any shade of color with grey streaks within it.

As for Brian, it means "exalted one." Derived from the Old Celtic words for "high" or "noble," it gained popularity in the 10th century due to a King of Ireland named Brian Boru.

7. Angela & Robert

Angela stems from the Greek words "angelos," which means "messenger of gods."

No matter which variation is used, Robert is an Old English name meaning "bright flame."

6. Lisa & John

Lisa was the most popular female name of the 60s, but it dropped down a few spots the following decade. It is a short form of the name Elizabeth, which stands for "My God is an oath" or "My God is abundance" in Greek.

The name John also fell off the top five since 70s. The biblical moniker means "Jehovah is gracious."

5. Kimberly & James

Kimberly maintains its position as the fifth most popular name for two decades in a row. The Old English name originates from a place called Kimberly in Norfolk, England. There are two parts to the name, cyneburg which means "royal fortress" and leah which means "woodland" or "clearing."

The classic name James stems from the Hebrew name Jacob, and it means "one who follows."

4. Michelle & David

Michelle is the French feminine form of Michael, which means "Who is like God?" or "Gift from God."

Another Hebrew name that has its roots in the Old Testament is David. Meaning "beloved," the name gained popularity on account of the story of David and Goliath.

3. Melissa & Jason

Melissa is derived from the Greek word for "bee," which actually comes from "meli" meaning "honey." The name is sometimes used as the feminine form of the Gaelic name Maoliosa which means "servant of Jesus."

Jason also find its roots in Greek mythology. The name, which means "healer," became popular thanks to the Thessalian hero Jason the great. Jason is also mentioned in the New Testament in reference to the man whose home Paul and Silas used as refuge.

2. Amy & Christopher

Amy, a short form for Amelia, is a French name meaning "beloved."

Christopher stems from the Greek name Christoforos meaning "Christ-bearer."

1. Jennifer & Michael

The most popular female name of the 70s, Jennifer is the English variation of the Cornish name Guinevere or Gwenhwyfar. The name means "white enchantress" or "fair one," although some people believe that it is derived from "Juniper."

Not only is Michael the top male name of the 70s, it is one of the most popular names of all time. The name is a variant of the Hebrew name "Mikhael" meaning "Who is like God?" The name first appeared in the Book of Numbers, then later in the Book of Daniel as the name of the only archangel mentioned in the Bible.

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.