20 Baby Names from the 1970s That You Don't See Anymore
Amidst the bell bottoms, funky prints, and free-spirited natures of the 1970s, a crop of baby names saw their height of fame. Today, these girl and boy names are seen as “classic,” “traditional,” or dare we say “outdated,” but at the time, they were everywhere. You couldn't go to school, church, or any other activity without seeing these names. While some popular names from the ‘70s are still used today, such as Nicole, Joshua, and Sara, most of the names on this 1970s baby names list are far from mainstream anymore. Just think, when was the last time you met a baby named Billy or Nancy?
Whether you’re looking to revive these vintage names with your future baby or are looking for inspiration to add to your baby name list, we encourage you to take a peek at these iconic 1970s names. Who knows, you may even find your name on the list.
For more baby name ideas, make sure to check out our lists of meaningful baby girl names, biblical baby names, and Spanish boy names. Following along with the decade theme, we also have baby names that were popular in the 1950s and 1960s baby names to browse through next.
Nancy
When you think of the name Nancy, chances are you think of Nancy Sinatra, the singer, songwriter, actress, and daughter of Frank Sinatra, who rose to fame in the late '60s with hits such as "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and "Somethin' Stupid," a duet with her father. The triple-threat sports the 78th most popular girl's name of the 1970s.
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Chad
Now often used by younger generations as a slang word for a stereotypical male, 'Chad' was once the 30th most popular boy's name of the decade. Chad Everett, best known for his work on the 1969-1976 TV show Medical Center as Dr. Joe Gannon, is an iconic frontman for the name.
Donna
Who better to represent the name Donna than the famed singer and queen of disco, Donna Summer? She secured her '70s and '80s stardom with hits such as "I Love You," "Hot Stuff," and "Last Dance." Her iconic name was given to over 47,000 babies throughout the 1970s.
Dennis
This Greek and French-originated name was the 59th most popular boy's name of the decade. It also happened to be the name of famed actor Dennis Hopper, known for his roles in Easy Rider (1969), Apocalypse Now (1979), and other popular films.
Brenda
Now the #3345 most popular girl's name of 2024, Brenda was once 60th in popularity for women. Perhaps parents drew inspiration from the '60s and '70s icon, Brenda Lee, singer of "I'm Sorry" and the all too familiar "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," when naming their daughters.
Terry
With a name that means "Ruler of the People," we'd say it's pretty safe to assume '70s comedian Terry Gilliam had that effect on people. He directed and played several characters in the famed movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), which had watchers cracking up with its ridiculousness.
Teresa
Does the TV show Get Christie Love! ring a bell? If so, you likely recognize Teresa Graves, star of the 1974 television program. Her name was given to over 56,000 baby girls over the span of the decade, making Teresa the 52nd most popular name for women in the '70s.
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Rodney
Gaining further acclaim in the 1980s thanks to movies such as Caddyshack (1980) and Easy Money (1983), the '70s saw the development of Rodney Dangerfield's comedic career. He made regular appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, and the Tonight Show, perhaps laying the groundwork for the more than 37,000 babies named Rodney that decade.
Jill
Any James Bond fan will certainly recognize the original Bond girl, Jill St. John, from the 1971 movie Diamonds Are Forever. Jill's loud and brash character Tiffany Case was a far cry from sweet — the meaning behind the actor's actual name, Jill.
Billy
Billy Joel, otherwise known as the Piano Man, was bringing out hit after hit in the 1970s with songs such as "Vienna," Movin' Out," and of course, "Piano Man." Despite the drastic drop in popularity of his name over the decades, his music still plays on.
Gina
Pivoting from acting to photography in the 1970s, Gina Lollobrigida, formerly known as "the most beautiful woman in the world" rose to stardom with leading roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956), Come September (1961), and Soloman and Sheba (1959). We can't imagine the over 38,000 girls born in the 1970s with the name Gina are too sad about sharing it with the former most beautiful woman in the world.
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Ronald / Ron
An original member of the British rock group The Rolling Stones, Ronald David Wood was one of the group's original guitarists and one that is still around today. Unsurprisingly, due to his British roots, the name Ronald dates back to Old English.
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Tammy
The words wholesome, natural, and informal are all associated with the name Tammy, and that's exactly what country music star Tammy Wynette embodied. The name behind hits such as "Til I Can Make It On My Own" and "Stand By Your Man," Tammy is considered to be the First Lady of Country Music — not a bad namesake to share.
Larry
"Are you reelin' in the years? Stowin' away the time?" If so, you may be familiar with Larry Carlton, guitarist for the American rock band, Steeley Dan, known for hits such as "Reelin' In the Years" and "Do It Again" off their 1972 album Can't Buy a Thrill. Like the sentiment of the song, the name Larry is a capsule of the 1970s and the decades before it — stowed away from modern times.
Wendy
Best known as the lead singer of the Plasmatics, a notable punk rock band from the late '70s and early '80s, Wendy O. Williams and her group were able to crack the Billboard Top 200 with their hit, "New Hope for the Wretched." Similarly, her name also cracked the top 200 list of most popular baby names of the 1970s, ranking 38th.
Curtis
With a name that means "courteous," singer, guitarist, and producer, Curtis Mayfield certainly lived up to the moniker with his R&B/Soul sound, singing tunes about chasing your dreams in "Move On Up" and the power of perseverance in "Keep on Keeping On."
Pamela / Pam
Don't get it twisted, though her name means "honey" and "all sweetness," Pamela Sue Martin carried a bit of bite and tenacity in her star role as Nancy Drew in the 1977-79 television show The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries.
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Todd
If you think of a famous Todd from the '70s, chances are you think of Todd Rundgren, the voice behind tunes such as "Can We Still Be Friends?" "Hello, It's Me," and "A Dream Goes On Forever." His emotive tenor sound helped soundtrack the decade, perhaps inspiring the more than 83,000 boys named Todd in the 1970s.
Tanya
Miss Delta Dawn, Tanya Tucker, has been a voice in country music since 1972 when she was just 13 years old. That's when her breakout single, "Delta Dawn," put her on the map as she sang about a stolen youth and reputation. Similar to the song's Billboard Top 100 ranking of 72, her name was the 62nd most popular of the decade.
Randy
From 1948-1984, the name Randy was in the top 100 names for boys. From 1969-1975 the band The Guess Who was at the height of their popularity. In this group was Randy Bachman the band's guitarist. His height of fame coincides directly with the name's popularity. It's almost like he's a "Star Baby" or "Glamour Boy."
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