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 Nevada 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated free things to do in Nevada by visitors
Unsplash
1 / 50Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 38 (#512 (tie) most common name, -80.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #47
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 68,301
Unsplash
2 / 50Shane is a name of Irish origin meaning "graced by God".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 198
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 107 (#299 (tie) most common name, -46.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #60
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 50,289
Photopin
3 / 50Jesse is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "the Lord exists".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 198
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 292 (#125 most common name, +47.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #66
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 44,910
Canva
4 / 50Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 203
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 215 (#165 most common name, +5.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #40
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 83,515
Canva
5 / 50Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 207
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 73 (#371 (tie) most common name, -64.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #43
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 81,778
You may also like: Most common dog breeds available for adoption in Nevada
Canva
6 / 50Nicholas is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 212
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 518 (#64 (tie) most common name, +144.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #51
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,095
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
7 / 50Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 224
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 842 (#33 most common name, +275.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 107,996
Unsplash
8 / 50Bryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 224
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 291 (#126 most common name, +29.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #46
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 71,405
Pixabay
9 / 50Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 225
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,084 (#18 most common name, +381.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #44
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 81,386
Pexels
10 / 50Travis is a name of French origin meaning "to cross".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 243
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 127 (#265 (tie) most common name, -47.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #54
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 64,139
You may also like: Counties with the most motor vehicle accident fatalities in Nevada
Unsplash
11 / 50Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 262
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 139 (#247 (tie) most common name, -46.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #37
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 91,309
FamVeld // Shutterstock
12 / 50Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 263
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 67 (#393 most common name, -74.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 115,646
FamVeld // Shutterstock
13 / 50Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 263
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 45 (#478 (tie) most common name, -82.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #42
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 82,475
Falcona // Shutterstock
14 / 50Adam is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "earth".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 264
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 373 (#96 most common name, +41.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #36
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 91,829
Philippe Put // Flickr
15 / 50Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 270
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 108 (#295 (tie) most common name, -60.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #33
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 107,880
You may also like: Best NFL players born in Nevada
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
16 / 50Brandon is a name of English origin meaning "beacon hill" or "crow".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 274
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 622 (#46 most common name, +127.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #52
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,085
Pexels
17 / 50Chad is a name of English origin meaning "from the warrior's town".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 275
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5 (#930 (tie) most common name, -98.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #30
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 113,598
Canva
18 / 50Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 281
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 923 (#26 most common name, +228.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 133,096
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
19 / 50Shawn is a name of Irish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 316
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 105 (#302 (tie) most common name, -66.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 105,831
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
20 / 50Sean is a name of Irish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 328
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 186 (#198 most common name, -43.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #39
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 83,945
You may also like: Counties with the most pre-war homes in Nevada
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
21 / 50Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 338
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 183 (#202 most common name, -45.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 111,551
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
22 / 50Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 382
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 155 (#232 most common name, -59.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #27
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 136,498
Min An // Pexels
23 / 50Aaron is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "high mountain".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 403
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 789 (#37 most common name, +95.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #35
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 101,539
Pixabay
24 / 50Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 404
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 147 (#240 most common name, -63.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 181,367
Canva
25 / 50Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 406
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 371 (#97 most common name, -8.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #23
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 163,117
You may also like: Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Nevada
Pixabay
26 / 50Jeremy is a name of English origin meaning "appointed by God".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 430
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 195 (#185 (tie) most common name, -54.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 139,357
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
27 / 50Justin is a name of Latin origin meaning "righteous".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 431
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 364 (#100 most common name, -15.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 86,581
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
28 / 50Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 447
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 150 (#238 most common name, -66.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,442
Canva
29 / 50Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 449
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 87 (#333 (tie) most common name, -80.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,965
Pixabay
30 / 50Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 465
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 473 (#78 most common name, +1.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 186,901
You may also like: How Nevada's unbanked population compares to the rest of the US
Jeremy Bishop // Unsplash
31 / 50Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 468
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 54 (#433 most common name, -88.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 194,707
Pixabay
32 / 50Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 494
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 511 (#67 most common name, +3.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 212,422
Canva
33 / 50Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 518
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 656 (#43 most common name, +26.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 139,756
Burst
34 / 50Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 519
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 844 (#32 most common name, +62.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 140,406
Pixabay
35 / 50Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 549
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 247 (#140 (tie) most common name, -55.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 188,214
You may also like: Biggest exports from Nevada
Pixabay
36 / 50Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 556
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,453 (#5 (tie) most common name, +161.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 174,951
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
37 / 50Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 572
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 276 (#128 most common name, -51.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 211,608
Tetyana Kovyrina // Pexels
38 / 50Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 683
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 970 (#23 most common name, +42.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,939
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
39 / 50Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 684
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 249 (#138 most common name, -63.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 202,920
Ana Paula Lima // Pexels
40 / 50Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 707
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,465 (#4 most common name, +107.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 244,582
You may also like: Hottest Januarys in Nevada since 1895
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
41 / 50Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 732
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,105 (#16 most common name, +51.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 278,010
Canva
42 / 50William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 749
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 992 (#20 most common name, +32.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 283,588
Pixabay
43 / 50Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 850
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 228 (#154 most common name, -73.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 322,870
Pexels
44 / 50John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,100
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 588 (#54 (tie) most common name, -46.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 402,879
My Good Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,234
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 959 (#24 most common name, -22.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 444,982
You may also like: The most popular grocery items for Christmas in Nevada, according to Instacart
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
46 / 50Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,237
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 515 (#66 most common name, -58.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 397,452
PxHere
47 / 50David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,302
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,089 (#17 most common name, -16.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 446,004
Pexels
48 / 50Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,357
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 947 (#25 most common name, -30.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 475,669
PxHere
49 / 50Jason is a name of Greek origin meaning "healer".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 1,496
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 448 (#83 most common name, -70.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 462,954
Unsplash
50 / 50Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Nevada
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 2,037
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,276 (#10 most common name, -37.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 707,737
You may also like: Coldest Septembers in Nevada since 1895
