Names that Peaked in 1971

  1. Michael
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  2. Jennifer
    • Origin:

      Cornish variation of Guinevere, Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "white shadow, white wave"
    • Description:

      Jennifer is the Cornish variation of Guinevere, which ultimately derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. As such, it is connected to the queen of Arthurian legend, and sharees the same meaning of "white shadow", "white wave", or "white phantom".
  3. Julie
    • Origin:

      French from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  4. Dawn
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "dawn, sunrise"
    • Description:

      Associated with the first light of the day, and more figuratively with new beginnings and fresh starts, Dawn's heyday came in the 1960s and 70s in the US, Canada and the UK. It had been in the charts since around the end of the First World War but really began to take off in the 1950s.
  5. Michelle
    • Origin:

      French variation of Michael
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  6. Scott
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from Scotland"
    • Description:

      A cool, windswept, surfer babe-magnet in 1965, a nice dad -- or even granddad -- today.
  7. Dana
    • Origin:

      English, Slavic, Persian, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  8. Tobin
    • Origin:

      English surname derived from Tobias
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  9. Raina
    • Origin:

      Slavic and German variation of Regina
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  10. Shay
    • Origin:

      Irish, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "stately, gift"
    • Description:

      A variant spelling of either Irish Shea or Hebrew Shai, Shay feels at once vintage and modern.
  11. Brent
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  12. Marcy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Marcia
    • Meaning:

      "Mars, god of war"
    • Description:

      Marcy is about as hip as bobby sox and saddle shoes – which is to say, it's probably due a revival in the not-too-distant future! It was a typical Peanuts character name, which peaked in the seventies, but is starting to attract attention again across the pond, where soundalikes like Macy, Marnie, Maisy, Darcy and Lacey are already popular.
  13. Ginger
    • Origin:

      English diminutive
    • Description:

      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.
  14. Stacy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Anastasia
    • Description:

      A key cheerleader in the nickname game of the 1970s, Stacy is now the mom. Consider Stacia, or the original Anastasia.
  15. Tammy
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Tamara
    • Description:

      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.
  16. Jody
    • Origin:

      Variation or diminutive of Joseph
    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"
    • Description:

      Quintessentially sweet and innocent unisex name of the 1960s and 70s, now gone the way of hot pants and disco balls.
  17. Tricia
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Patricia
    • Meaning:

      "noble, patrician"
    • Description:

      Back in Patricia's midcentury heyday, Patty/Patti was the plebeian nickname while Tricia/Trisha and Tish/Trish carried a snobby-yet-insubstantial image associated with then First Daughter Tricia Nixon.
  18. Bobbi
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Roberta or Barbara, English
    • Meaning:

      "bright fame; foreigner"
    • Description:

      A vintage short form of Roberta or Barbara, Bobbi fits into the boyish nicknames for girls renaissance.
  19. Darcie
    • Origin:

      Variation of Darcy, Irish or French
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  20. Anissa
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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.

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