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 Iowa 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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Pixabay
1 / 50Bryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 960
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 131 (#290 most common name, -86.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #46
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 71,405
Canva
2 / 50Craig is a name of Scottish origin meaning "rocky".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 975
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5 (#1019 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #55
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 58,823
Canva
3 / 50Brandon is a name of English origin meaning "beacon hill" or "crow".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,078
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 237 (#175 (tie) most common name, -78.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #51
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,085
Unsplash
4 / 50Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,090
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 550 (#73 most common name, -49.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 107,996
Min An // Pexels
5 / 50Brent is a name of English origin meaning "hill".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,101
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 550 (#73 most common name, data not available compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #79
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 35,388
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Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
6 / 50Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,179
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 35 (#590 most common name, -97.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 115,646
Pixabay
7 / 50Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,210
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 715 (#48 most common name, -40.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #23
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 163,117
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
8 / 50Cory is a name of Irish origin meaning "from the hollow".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,212
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5 (#1019 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #95
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 27,454
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
9 / 50Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,278
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 206 (#197 (tie) most common name, -83.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #37
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 91,309
Canva
10 / 50Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,365
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 6 (#932 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #49
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,212
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PxHere
11 / 50Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,486
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 162 (#246 most common name, -89.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #27
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 136,498
My Good Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50Shane is a name of Irish origin meaning "graced by God".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,529
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 75 (#417 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #59
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 50,289
Fotonium // Shutterstock
13 / 50Nicholas is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,531
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 376 (#117 most common name, -75.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #50
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,095
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
14 / 50Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,700
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 620 (#66 most common name, -63.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 174,951
PxHere
15 / 50Troy is a name of Irish origin meaning "foot soldier".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,716
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 70 (#430 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #61
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 48,851
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Pexels
16 / 50Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,753
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 151 (#260 most common name, -91.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,920
Canva
17 / 50Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,769
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 317 (#137 most common name, -82.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #36
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 91,829
FamVeld // Shutterstock
18 / 50Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,781
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,229 (#11 most common name, -31.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #44
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 81,386
Canva
19 / 50Shawn is a name of Irish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,846
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 85 (#375 (tie) most common name, -95.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 105,831
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
20 / 50Bradley is a name of English origin meaning "woodland clearing".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,872
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 150 (#262 most common name, -92.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #56
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 58,688
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Canva
21 / 50Nathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "given".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,981
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 497 (#82 most common name, -74.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #48
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,945
marina shin // Shutterstock
22 / 50Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,031
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 216 (#193 most common name, -89.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 86,581
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
23 / 50Travis is a name of French origin meaning "to cross".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,070
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 81 (#391 (tie) most common name, -96.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #53
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 64,139
PxHere
24 / 50Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,157
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 651 (#59 most common name, -69.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 186,901
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
25 / 50Todd is a name of English origin meaning "fox".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,220
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5 (#1019 (tie) most common name, -99.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #41
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 83,384
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26 / 50William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,377
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,650 (#2 most common name, -30.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 283,588
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
27 / 50Aaron is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "high mountain".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,471
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 466 (#89 (tie) most common name, -81.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #35
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 101,539
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
28 / 50Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,512
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 808 (#39 most common name, -67.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 133,096
Pixabay
29 / 50Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,512
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 236 (#178 most common name, -90.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 212,422
Canva
30 / 50Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,630
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 864 (#32 most common name, -67.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,939
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Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
31 / 50Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,639
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 154 (#256 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 188,214
Canva
32 / 50Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,980
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 190 (#220 most common name, -93.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 181,367
Canva
33 / 50Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,023
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 138 (#276 (tie) most common name, -95.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,442
Photopin
34 / 50Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,170
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 621 (#65 most common name, -80.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 140,406
Unsplash
35 / 50Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,390
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115 (#311 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 139,357
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36 / 50Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,464
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 189 (#221 most common name, -94.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 211,608
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
37 / 50Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,572
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 793 (#41 most common name, -77.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,582
Unsplash
38 / 50Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,648
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 80 (#395 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,965
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
39 / 50Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 3,855
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 419 (#101 most common name, -89.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 397,452
Lopolo // Shutterstock
40 / 50Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,054
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 547 (#74 most common name, -86.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 139,756
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Shutterstock
41 / 50John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,155
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 697 (#50 most common name, -83.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 402,879
Unsplash
42 / 50Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,174
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 62 (#452 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,707
PxHere
43 / 50James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 4,372
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,161 (#14 most common name, -73.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 444,982
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
44 / 50David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,003
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 717 (#47 most common name, -85.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 446,004
Canva
45 / 50Chad is a name of English origin meaning "from the warrior's town".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,238
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 17 (#714 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #30
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 113,598
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Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
46 / 50Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,612
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 502 (#80 most common name, -91.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 475,669
Capable97 // Shutterstock
47 / 50Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,614
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 122 (#301 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 322,870
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
48 / 50Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,430
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 680 (#53 most common name, -89.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 278,010
Canva
49 / 50Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 8,195
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 869 (#30 most common name, -89.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 707,737
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
50 / 50Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 8,576
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 262 (#158 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 462,954
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