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Names that Peaked in 1979

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
  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. Christopher

    • Origin:

      Greek and Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"

    • Description:

      Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos, referring to Christ, and phero, meaning "to bear."
  3. 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".
  4. Leif

    • Origin:

      Swedish; Danish; Norwegian

    • Meaning:

      "heir, descendant"

    • Description:

      Leif is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks to Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson, and is still one of the best, with a pleasant aural association with the word leaf.
  5. Holly

    • Origin:

      English nature name

    • Description:

      Holly ranks just in British Top 50, but it's been out of favor here since the 1970s Era of Nickname Names. Still, the name may be on her way back as a rejuvenated nature pick.
  6. Melissa

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "honeybee"

    • Description:

      Melissa derives from the Greek word mélissa, meaning "bee," which was taken from the word for honey, meli. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who nursed the infant god Zeus with honey. Melissa was used as a given name by the early Greeks, as well as for fairies by Italian Renaissance poets.
  7. Siobhan

    • Origin:

      Irish Gaelic

    • Meaning:

      "god is gracious"

    • Description:

      Siobhan is the Irish variation of Joan, which is derived from the ancient Anglo-Norman name Jehanne. In this way Siobhan is indirectly related to the name Sinead—the Irish form of Jeannette, which also derived from Jehanne—although Sinead is not a nickname for Siobhan. Siobhan was the name of several early Irish queens and was introduced to the American public by the actress Siobhan McKenna.
  8. Travis

    • Origin:

      French occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "tollgate-keeper"

    • Description:

      Has a laid-back rural feel some would associate with country singer Travis Tritt; Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon chose it for their son. Travis Scott, born Jacques Webster Jr., a popular rap artist, is another famous Travis.
  9. Bambi

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Bambina, Italian

    • Meaning:

      "child; baby girl"

    • Description:

      Although Disney's cute deer was a male, Bambi has always been used for girls. It first appeared on the charts in 1943, the year after the Disney movie was released. Bambi featured in the Top 1000 from 1954-1964 — a decade where girl names ending in I, like Lori and Teri, were big — and again from 1977-1982.
  10. April

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "to open"

    • Description:

      Once the most popular month names, April has been overtaken by June (for girls) and August (for boys), as well as the charmingly old-fashioned May. Literary reference: the heroine of the book and movie Revolutionary Road, and there have been Aprils on Parks and Recreation, Glee, and The Vampire Diaries. Trivia note: comedian Ralphie May named his daughter April June May.
  11. Jedidiah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "beloved of the Lord"

    • Description:

      Jedidiah, an Old Testament name with a touch of Gunsmoke-era western panache, is right in line to be revived along with the other biblical -iah names.
  12. Bradley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wide meadow"

    • Description:

      An English surname name, Bradley has a long history, dating way back to at least 1086, but as a first name it actually succeeded in the US before it reached England--though Dickens used it in his novel Our Mutual Friend. Bradley Cooper is one namesake.
  13. Reggie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Reginald

    • Meaning:

      "counsel power"

    • Description:

      Old time nickname that's starting to sound fresh again, à la Alfie and Freddie.
  14. Rian

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little king"

    • Description:

      More authentic and original form of Ryan, but far less common of the two spellings in the US. There were about 170 baby boys named Rian in the US last year, versus over 4000 named Ryan.
  15. Jana

    • Origin:

      International feminine variation of Jan

    • Description:

      A sweet name with many cross-cultural ties: it's an equivalent of Jane in languages including Czech, Slovak, Dutch, German, Slovene, Catalan, Estonian, and Latvian.
  16. Jovan

    • Origin:

      Slavic variation of John Latin

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious; Jove-like, majestic"

    • Description:

      Jovan, the name of the supreme Roman deity, seems more extraterrestrial now -- and it's also firmly attached to a perfume label. Some parents may see it as a variation of Giovanni, the Italian for John. It is in fact the Slavic variation of John and may be an original way to honor an ancestral John.
  17. Mindy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Melinda

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful honey"

    • Description:

      This sweet nickname style name combines contemporary Indy with vintage Minnie. Popular in the 80s, it fell out of style by the mid-90s, but, with the likes of Annie, Edie, Ellie, Bonnie and Heidi getting more attention, could Mindy make a comeback?
  18. Mario

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Marius, form of mythological name Mars

    • Meaning:

      "warlike"

    • Description:

      Many may associate Mario with the popular platform game - unsurprising when it's the 5th best-selling video game worldwide, and was voted the 2nd best game ever by IGN in 2024. The titular plumber was apparently named after American businessman, Mario Segale, who rented a warehouse to Nintendo, and this in itself reflects that Mario is much more established than just a name for a video game character.
  19. Zebulon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "exaltation or little dwelling"

    • Description:

      An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb.
  20. Lindy

    • Description:

      Lindy is a feminine name with multiple origins. It can be a diminutive of names like Linda, Melinda, Belinda, or Rosalind. In German, Lindy derives from "lind" meaning "soft, tender, or flexible." The name gained unique cultural associations in the 1930s and 1940s with the popularity of the Lindy Hop dance, named after aviator Charles Lindbergh. Lindy has a playful, energetic quality that evokes a friendly and approachable personality. While it peaked in popularity in mid-20th century America, it maintains an enduring charm with its vintage appeal. The name balances casualness with a classic feel, making it work equally well for a child or an adult.

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