Names that Peaked in 1971
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- Michael
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"who is like God?"Description:
Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names, it's still widely used.
- Jennifer
Origin:
Cornish variation of Welsh GuinevereMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Jennifer is the Cornish variation of Guinevere, which ultimately derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. It has been in use in the English-speaking world since the 18th century but came to prominence in the 20th. Playwright George Bernard Shaw chose Jennifer for the name of his leading lady in his play The Doctor’s Dilemma, which drew more attention to the name.
- Scott
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from Scotland"Description:
A cool, windswept, surfer babe-magnet in 1965, a nice dad -- or even granddad -- today.
- Michelle
Origin:
French variation of MichaelMeaning:
"who is like God"Description:
Michelle is the feminine form of Michel, the French variation of Michael. Michael was derived from the Hebrew name Mihka’el, meaning "who is like God." The alternate spelling Michele, with one "L," was the original version of the name. Michelle appeared as a later Anglicization in the 20th century.
- Julie
Origin:
French from LatinMeaning:
"youthful, sky father"Description:
Wildly popular in the 1960s and '70s, Julie is no longer anywhere near as stylish as the name's longer forms. Try Juliet, Juliana, or even the more grownup Julia.
- Dawn
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dawn, sunrise"Description:
Dawn's heyday in the US, Canada and the UK came in the 1960s and 70s. It peaked at #14 in the US in 1971, but has since sunk from sight to be eclipsed by other names with the same meaning, such as Aurora, Roxana or Zariah.
- Raina
Origin:
Slavic and German variation of ReginaMeaning:
"queen"Description:
Strong and solid, with a touch of foreign intrigue, it's the most popular of the rain-related names, with a variety of pronunciations—RAY-na, rah-EE-na, or RY-na. Alternate spellings Reyna and Rayna currently rank higher in the US.
- Dana
Origin:
English, Slavic, Persian, ArabicMeaning:
"from Denmark, gift, or wise"Description:
This name found in both Celtic and Scandinavian mythology has gone from all-boy to almost all-girl, retaining a strong, unisex quality. However, it has dropped following its three-decade heyday from the 1960s to the 1990s.
- Shay
Origin:
Irish, HebrewMeaning:
"stately, gift"Description:
A variant spelling of either Irish Shea or Hebrew Shai, Shay feels at once vintage and modern.
- Brent
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller near the burnt land"Description:
One of several blunt B names just this side of the gender divide. While its short and to-the-point sound may feel modern, it has been declining steadily since the 1980s.
- Ginger
Origin:
English diminutiveDescription:
Originally a unisex nickname for a redhead -- red hair is called "ginger" in Britain -- or for the name Virginia, Ginger perennially wears pink gingham and spike heels.
- Tobin
Origin:
English surname derived from TobiasMeaning:
"God is good"Description:
Tobias-related name that makes an attractive and modern-sounding form of the biblical original. It was recently chosen by Karolina Kurkova for her son.
- Tammy
Origin:
English, diminutive of TamaraDescription:
Made famous in fifties movies as a wholesome backwoods gal, Tammy was a Top 10 choice from the mid-60s to early-70s, but is now given to fewer than 100 babies per year in the US.
- Darcie
Origin:
Variation of Darcy, Irish or FrenchMeaning:
"dark one; from Arcy; from the fortress"Description:
While the traditional Darcy spelling is solidly gender-neutral, the -ie ending of Darcie gives this name unabashedly feminine flair. Darcie is a Top 100 choice in England and Scotland, and briefly ranked in the US from 1967-1977, along with 1980 and 1984.
- Jody
Origin:
Variation or diminutive of JosephMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"Description:
Quintessentially sweet and innocent unisex name of the 1960s and 70s, now gone the way of hot pants and disco balls.
- Scottie
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"Scot"Description:
A sweet, slightly old-school nickname name with a cheerful image.
- Kerry
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dark, dark-haired"Description:
Kerry is the name of one of the most beautiful and lush counties of Ireland was a seventies favorite. Related, updated versions might include Cerys and Keira.
- Anissa
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"friendly"Description:
A pretty and delicate cousin of Anna is often heard in Scotland and is also currently popular in France. In the US it was brought to public attention by child actress Anissa Jones, who played Buffy on the popular TV show Family Affair, which debuted in 1966, bringing her name onto the charts the following year. Born Mary Anissa, her middle/stage name reflected her Lebanese heritage.
- Shawn
Origin:
Spelling variation of SeanMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Shawn is one name that's become less unisex and more distinctly male over time in all its spellings, given to only 14 baby girls and over 500 boys in the US in the most recent year counted. But at its peak in the early 1970s, it was a Top 200 baby name for girls in the US, given to nearly 2000 baby girls... and 12,000 boys in this spelling alone.
- Bobbi
Origin:
Diminutive of Roberta or Barbara, EnglishMeaning:
"bright fame; foreigner"Description:
A vintage short form of Roberta or Barbara, Bobbi fits into the boyish nicknames for girls renaissance.