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 Massachusetts 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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Pexels
1 / 50Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,515
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 118 (#379 most common name, -92.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #43
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 81,778
Canva
2 / 50Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,561
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 102 (#421 (tie) most common name, -93.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #42
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 82,475
morrowlight // Shutterstock
3 / 50Aaron is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "high mountain".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,620
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,022 (#74 (tie) most common name, -36.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #35
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 101,539
PxHere
4 / 50Nicholas is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,749
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,048 (#33 most common name, +17.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #51
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,095
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
5 / 50Marc is a name of Latin origin meaning "to be warlike".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,756
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 100 (#427 (tie) most common name, -94.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #89
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 31,757
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Peakpx
6 / 50George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,786
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 821 (#93 most common name, -54.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #53
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 64,754
Pixabay
7 / 50Craig is a name of Scottish origin meaning "rocky".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,951
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 56 (#618 most common name, -97.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #56
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 58,823
PxHere
8 / 50Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,995
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,645 (#1 most common name, +132.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #44
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 81,386
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,040
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 911 (#78 most common name, -55.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 86,581
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
10 / 50Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,133
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 530 (#131 most common name, -75.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 139,357
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Canva
11 / 50Derek is a name of German origin meaning "the people's ruler".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,500
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 368 (#180 (tie) most common name, -85.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #73
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 38,347
Burst
12 / 50Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,539
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 291 (#214 most common name, -88.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 111,551
Canva
13 / 50Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,573
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,281 (#9 most common name, +27.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 139,756
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
14 / 50Todd is a name of English origin meaning "fox".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,608
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5 (#1330 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #41
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 83,384
Pixabay
15 / 50Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,620
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,242 (#31 most common name, -14.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #23
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 163,117
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Pixabay
16 / 50Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,791
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,163 (#63 most common name, -58.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #37
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 91,309
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
17 / 50Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,920
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 747 (#102 most common name, -74.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #40
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 83,515
Canva
18 / 50Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,021
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,148 (#64 most common name, -62.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #36
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 91,829
Canva
19 / 50Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,070
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 234 (#246 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 115,646
Pixabay
20 / 50Keith is a name of Celtic origin meaning "wood, forest".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,149
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 92 (#459 most common name, -97.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #45
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 76,737
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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
21 / 50Shawn is a name of Irish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,179
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 216 (#253 most common name, -93.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 105,831
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
22 / 50Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,308
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,008 (#35 most common name, -39.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 140,406
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
23 / 50Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,590
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,722 (#21 most common name, -24.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 174,951
Pixabay
24 / 50Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,713
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,590 (#45 most common name, -57.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 107,996
Philippe Put // Flickr
25 / 50Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,182
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,508 (#25 most common name, -40.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 133,096
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Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
26 / 50Sean is a name of Irish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,213
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 793 (#97 most common name, -81.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #39
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 83,945
Canva
27 / 50Peter is a name of Greek origin meaning "rock".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,285
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 715 (#105 most common name, -83.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #55
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 62,361
Canva
28 / 50Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,735
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 487 (#137 (tie) most common name, -89.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 188,214
Canva
29 / 50Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,796
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 396 (#172 (tie) most common name, -91.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #33
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 107,880
Unsplash
30 / 50Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,965
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 685 (#107 most common name, -86.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 181,367
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Canva
31 / 50Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,669
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 523 (#132 most common name, -90.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #27
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 136,498
2p2play // Shutterstock
32 / 50Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,841
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,527 (#24 most common name, -56.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 186,901
Canva
33 / 50Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,042
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 545 (#127 (tie) most common name, -91.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 211,608
marina shin // Shutterstock
34 / 50Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,237
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 557 (#122 most common name, -91.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,920
PxHere
35 / 50Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,427
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,022 (#74 (tie) most common name, -84.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 212,422
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Fotonium // Shutterstock
36 / 50Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,503
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 475 (#141 most common name, -92.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,442
Canva
37 / 50Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,719
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 332 (#195 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,965
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
38 / 50William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,980
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,155 (#2 most common name, -40.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 283,588
Sidharth Sircar // Pexels
39 / 50Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,013
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 163 (#306 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,707
Canva
40 / 50Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,636
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,862 (#18 most common name, -62.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,939
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FamVeld // Shutterstock
41 / 50Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,980
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,887 (#16 most common name, -63.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,582
PxHere
42 / 50Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 9,275
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 602 (#118 most common name, -93.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 322,870
Ana Paula Lima // Pexels
43 / 50Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 9,761
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,876 (#17 most common name, -70.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 278,010
Photopin
44 / 50James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 10,470
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,440 (#7 most common name, -67.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 444,982
Pexels
45 / 50Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 10,817
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,353 (#54 most common name, -87.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 397,452
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Todd Trapani // Unsplash
46 / 50Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 10,888
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,189 (#60 most common name, -89.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 462,954
FamVeld // Shutterstock
47 / 50John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 11,933
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,220 (#10 most common name, -73.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 402,879
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
48 / 50David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 13,091
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,901 (#38 most common name, -85.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 446,004
Canva
49 / 50Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 13,476
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,966 (#37 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 475,669
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
50 / 50Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 22,256
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,456 (#6 most common name, -84.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 707,737
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