One of the most stressful experiences of pregnancy, other than the ever changing body, is trying to pick out a name for your future child. At first glance, this may not seem like a difficult process to some. But between lobbing vetoes back and forth with your partner and searching for a moniker with meaning, it can take a toll on even the most patient person. Maybe that's why you should take it back to a chill era of peace and love, and consider popular baby names from the '70s. You don't have to be a card-carrying member of the hippie movement to appreciate some of these options. But if you're a stickler for nostalgia, then this could be right up your alley.
The 1970s were a far out time. Disco was on the rise, bell-bottoms kept getting wider, and everything seemed groovy. Whether you were on the Donna Summer, glitter platforms side of the decade or you prefer the philosophical pondering of John Lennon, this decade had it all. From funkadelic to flower child, the popular baby names of the '70s are long overdue for a come back. See which one of these options really jives with you and your future baby.
1Jennifer
Listed as the top girl name of the '70s, according to the Social Security Administration's (SSA) records, Jennifer is a version of Guinevere which means "fair one" in Welsh. Shortened to Jenny or Jen, this classic name has plenty of variations.
2Michael
Also from the SSA records, the top boy name of the '70s was Michael. With Hebrew origins, Michael means "gift from God" and has been a traditional male moniker far beyond just the 1970s.
3Chris
An androgynous option, Chris could be used as a gender-neutral choice. A top name of the '70s, Chris relates to "Christ-bearing" in Greek, but literally translates to meaning "to bear or to carry." Whether you opt for Christoper, Christian, Chrissy, or just Chris, you've got some far out names to pick from.
4George
George Harrison, a member of The Beatles, was definitely an icon of the 1970s and his name ranked high on the SSA's popularity list for the decade as well. A solid choice, George means "earth-worker" in Greek and is sure to give your little one some groovy roots.
5Dawn
nspired by a popular Hair song, Dawn is such a great choice for a '70s-inspired name. Quite literally meaning "sunshine, dawn" in Greek, this option is as inspirational as it is hippie-dippie.
6Casey
Listed in the SSA's popular '70s baby names, Casey is a great neutral option. Meaning "brave" in Irish, Casey is a bold choice for your little one, regardless of gender.
7Rhiannon
This option undoubtedly gained popularity due to the Fleetwood Mac song of the same name. According to the SSA, Rhiannon peaked in 1977 and was solid throughout the entire decade. Meaning "great queen" in Celtic, your future daughter will be rocking her royal moniker.
8Sonny
As noted by the SSA, Sonny reached its height of popularity in 1975. Perhaps a nod to the iconic '70s duo, Sonny and Cher, the name literally derives from the word for "our son" in English.
9Kelly
Ideal for any gender, this name ranked for both boys and girls in the '70s, according to the SSA. Kelly means "warrior, defender" in Irish and is a strong option for your future baby.
10Autumn
Nature and the seasons were a big theme in the 1970s. This name actually debuted on the SSA's top 1000 list for the first time in 1970 and has stayed consistently popular. Coming from the Latin, Autumn comes from the name of the season.
11Crosby
Crosby, Stills, and Nash was a popular band in the '70s and definitely serve as some chill inspiration for a name. Meaning "the village with the cross" in Norwegian, Crosby has an Old World feel.
12Rain
Going back to the theme of nature, Rain perfectly captures the tree-hugging sentiment of the decade. Literally meaning "rain" in English, this is a lovely gender-neutral choice.
13Summer
According to the SSA, this name made its debut on their list in 1971 and was most popular in 1977. If you want a bit of eternal sunshine in your life, then Summer, which has the same meaning as the season, would be a perfect fit for your future daughter.
14Heather
The eighth most popular girl's name in the '70s, according to the SSA, Heather has a timeless quality. Derived from the flower of the same name, Heather honors the "flower child" vibe of the decade.
15Samir
Debuting in 1977 on the SSA's popular baby name list, Samir is primarily used for boys but can be considered unisex as well. Meaning "wind" in Sanskrit, this breezy moniker has a very '70s feel to it.
16Ignacio
You already know George means "earth-worker," Samir means "wind," and that brings you to Ignacio, which means "fire" in Roman. If you haven't guessed by now, Earth, Wind, and Fire was a funky musical act in the '70s and could be a great source of inspiration if you have triplets.
17Misty
A song and film both had this name in the title, it ranked on the SSA's popularity list for the '70s, and peaked in 1977. Primarily used as a girl's name, Misty means "covered in mist, dew" in English and has an ethereal aura about it.
