Names can tell the story of a generation. To learn more about the culture of the 1970s, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the 70s in Arkansas using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
So why were so many parents drawn to a few popular names during this groovy decade? The answers vary from name to name but make total sense when you consider the context of the era.
Bob Dylan's hits certainly put a spotlight on the name Dylan. Fans of Corey Baker on the late 1960s to early 1970s sitcom "Julia" might have been compelled to put Corey (or the other popular variation, Kory) on their son's birth certificates. People who came of age during the peace-and-love counterculture revolution may have been attracted to nature-inspired baby names, like Micah, while other newborns of the 1970s may have gotten their names from some of the biggest stars of the decade such as Jamey Sheridan or Ricky Nelson.
Keep reading to see if any familiar boys' names (or your own!) made our list.
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1 / 50Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 800
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 154 (#244 (tie) most common name, -80.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #37
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 91,309
Unsplash
2 / 50Rodney is a name of English origin meaning "island near the clearing".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 804
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 36 (#557 (tie) most common name, -95.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #73
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 37,409
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
3 / 50Bradley is a name of English origin meaning "woodland clearing".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 832
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 191 (#211 most common name, -77.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #57
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 58,688
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 846
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 50 (#497 most common name, -94.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #42
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 82,475
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
5 / 50Keith is a name of Celtic origin meaning "wood, forest".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 865
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 91 (#351 most common name, -89.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #45
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 76,737
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Canva
6 / 50Aaron is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "high mountain".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 884
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 538 (#73 most common name, -39.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #35
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 101,539
Unsplash
7 / 50Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 908
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 78 (#392 most common name, -91.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #68
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 42,358
Canva
8 / 50Marcus is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 935
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 192 (#209 (tie) most common name, -79.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #71
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 39,349
Pixabay
9 / 50Bryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 945
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 189 (#213 most common name, -80.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #46
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 71,405
Canva
10 / 50Jeffery is a name of German origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 957
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 43 (#531 (tie) most common name, -95.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #67
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 44,551
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Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
11 / 50Jimmy is a name of English origin meaning "supplanter".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,010
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 99 (#333 (tie) most common name, -90.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #98
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 26,888
Burst
12 / 50Bobby is a name of German origin meaning "bright fame".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,015
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 89 (#357 (tie) most common name, -91.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #92
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 28,888
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
13 / 50Shawn is a name of Irish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,018
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 109 (#313 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 105,831
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
14 / 50Brandon is a name of English origin meaning "beacon hill" or "crow".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,022
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 467 (#82 most common name, -54.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #52
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,085
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
15 / 50Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,023
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 134 (#271 most common name, -86.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #27
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 136,498
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Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
16 / 50Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,064
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 379 (#97 most common name, -64.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 86,581
Unsplash
17 / 50Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,073
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 143 (#255 most common name, -86.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #33
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 107,880
PxHere
18 / 50Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,079
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 66 (#436 (tie) most common name, -93.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #47
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 68,301
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
19 / 50Chad is a name of English origin meaning "from the warrior's town".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,092
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 19 (#684 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #30
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 113,598
marina shin // Shutterstock
20 / 50Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,143
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 76 (#402 (tie) most common name, -93.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #63
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 48,306
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21 / 50Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,158
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 595 (#61 most common name, -48.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 107,996
Negative Space
22 / 50Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,201
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 96 (#339 (tie) most common name, -92.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #81
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 33,077
PxHere
23 / 50Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,223
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 86 (#368 most common name, -93.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #58
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 58,112
Canva
24 / 50Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,245
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 54 (#479 most common name, -95.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,707
Irisska // Shutterstock
25 / 50Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,294
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 101 (#328 (tie) most common name, -92.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 115,646
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Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
26 / 50Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,353
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 240 (#170 most common name, -82.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 111,551
Pixabay
27 / 50Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,418
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 924 (#25 most common name, -34.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 140,406
Canva
28 / 50Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,433
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 97 (#336 (tie) most common name, -93.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,965
Unsplash
29 / 50Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,436
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 579 (#64 (tie) most common name, -59.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 186,901
My Good Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,460
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 775 (#40 most common name, -46.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,582
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Africa Studio // Shutterstock
31 / 50Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,679
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 194 (#205 (tie) most common name, -88.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,920
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
32 / 50Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,721
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 796 (#35 most common name, -53.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,939
Pixabay
33 / 50Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,754
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 614 (#57 most common name, -65.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 174,951
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,797
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 143 (#255 most common name, -92.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,442
Philippe Put // Flickr
35 / 50Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,814
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 315 (#123 (tie) most common name, -82.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 181,367
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36 / 50Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,833
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 813 (#33 most common name, -55.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 278,010
2p2play // Shutterstock
37 / 50Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,835
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 222 (#178 most common name, -87.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 211,608
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
38 / 50Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,996
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 246 (#163 (tie) most common name, -87.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 188,214
PxHere
39 / 50Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,115
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 193 (#207 (tie) most common name, -90.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 139,357
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
40 / 50Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,386
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 645 (#54 most common name, -73.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #23
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 163,117
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Pixabay
41 / 50Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,526
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 369 (#99 (tie) most common name, -85.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 212,422
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
42 / 50Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,686
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 182 (#218 (tie) most common name, -93.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 322,870
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
43 / 50William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,133
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,820 (#1 most common name, -41.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 283,588
PxHere
44 / 50Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,475
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 565 (#67 most common name, -83.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 397,452
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
45 / 50David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,962
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 814 (#32 most common name, -79.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 446,004
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PxHere
46 / 50John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,134
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,149 (#10 most common name, -72.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 402,879
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
47 / 50Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,874
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 366 (#101 (tie) most common name, -92.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 462,954
Ana Paula Lima // Pexels
48 / 50Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,236
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 963 (#20 most common name, -81.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 475,669
Canva
49 / 50James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,928
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,381 (#5 most common name, -76.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 444,982
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
50 / 50Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Arkansas
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,561
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,124 (#11 most common name, -82.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 707,737
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