Names that Peaked in 1977
- Courtney
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"courteous, from the court"Description:
This courtly old Southern name has several cool male bearers: NFL player Courtney Brown, British jazz musician Courtney Pine, and Barbados-born economist Courtney Blackman, to name but a few.
- Seneca
Origin:
Latin surname and Native AmericanMeaning:
"people of the standing rock"Description:
Seneca's distinguished heritage as the name of the ancient Roman philosopher-playwright who tutored Nero, and of an Iroquois tribe makes this an interesting choice for either sex.
- Farrah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"happiness"Description:
For a few seconds there in the late '70s, Farrah Fawcett's name was as frequently copied as her hairstyle; the name was Number 177 in 1977. Now, after many years off the charts and out of style, it's back, mostly thanks to a TV Teen Mom who bears the name.
- Aisha
Origin:
Arabic; SwahiliMeaning:
"living, prosperous"Description:
Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations hugely popular among Muslims and also African-Americans. It's been energized by TV personality Aisha Tyler. Pronunciation is usually eye-EE-sha but some say ay-sha.
- Jenny
Origin:
Diminutive of Janet, Jane, Jean, and JenniferDescription:
At the height of the Jennifer craze, many parents were cutting straight to the nickname and putting Jenny on the birth certificate. But now that Jennifer is the mom rather than the daughter, Jenny, which has been somewhat replaced by Jenna, has faded as well.
- Aric
Origin:
Norse variation of EricDescription:
This poor lad will spend his life saying, "No, it's Aric, not Eric. Aaric, Arick, Arik Arric, Arrick.
- Kareem
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"noble, generous"Description:
A favorite Muslim name, Kareem first appeared on the US Top 1000 list in 1972 (jumping in at Number 405!), coinciding with the early career of basketball great turned writer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Lewis Alcindor). It has continued to chart every year since.
- Mandy
Origin:
Diminutive of AmandaDescription:
Nickname left over from the last generation.
- Tory
Origin:
English, diminutive of VictoriaMeaning:
"victory"Description:
More modern nickname for Victoria than Vicky. Better known as Tori spelling.
- Trish
Origin:
Diminutive of PatriciaMeaning:
"noble, patrician"Description:
Trish was a cool -- in every sense of the word -- nickname back when Patricia was one of the most popular names in the US, primarily in the 1960s and 1970s. Trish is actually kind of a nickname of a nickname, Tricia, best known as Tricia Nixon, the daughter of President Richard who named after her mother, who was called Pat. Trish, along with almost every other name related to Patricia including Pat, Patti, Patsy, and Tricia, is seriously out of fashion today.
- Kizzy
Origin:
Variation of KeziahMeaning:
"cassia tree"Description:
Kizzy was a character in Alex Haley's Roots; this and other Keziah variations were widely used among enslaved people. In Roots the name is explained by the hero Kunta as 'you sit down' or 'you stay put' in the Mandinka language meaning that 'this child would never get sold away'.
- Karim
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"noble, generous"Description:
Kareem is the more popular form in the US, thanks to basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but Karim is right on his heels after being among the fastest-rising names of 2022. French soccer player Karim Benzema's recent success on the elite team Real Madrid may play in a part in the name's upswing.
- Maricela
Origin:
Spanish, combination of Maria and CeliaMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + heaven"Description:
A pretty and little-known Spanish smoosh name, combining Maria with Celia.
- Sommer
Origin:
German and Danish variant of SummerDescription:
You occasionally see the German and Danish word for "summer" pop up as a first name -- 16 girls were given it in 2016 -- and that trend may continue, now that the original has risen to Number 202 on the American popularity list.
- Amin
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"faithful, trustworthy"Description:
Amin is a simple but strong name with a solid meaning. It was borne by the sixth Abbasid caliph, a ruler of the Abbasid Muslim Empire in the 9th century, a descendant of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
- Celena
Description:
Celena is a feminine name with multiple potential origins, primarily considered a variant spelling of Selena or Celina. The name ultimately derives from Greek origins related to 'selene,' meaning 'moon,' giving it associations with luminosity, mystery, and celestial beauty. The spelling variation with 'C' instead of 'S' gives the name a slightly different visual appeal while maintaining the same melodic pronunciation. Celena gained modest popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s but remains relatively uncommon. The name has a romantic, flowing quality with its soft consonants and open vowel sounds. Parents might choose Celena for its elegant sound, celestial connections, and the balance it strikes between being recognizable yet not overly common.
- Damion
Origin:
Spelling variation of DamienDescription:
The least popular version of Damien in the Top 1000, this name still enjoyed a bit of a boost in 2013 -- it climbed 83 spots since 2012.
- Donny
Description:
Donny is a masculine name most commonly used as a diminutive of Donald, which derives from the Scottish Gaelic name Dòmhnall, meaning "world ruler" or "world mighty." The name gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, partly due to the fame of performers like Donny Osmond. Donny has a friendly, approachable quality that maintains the strength of Donald while adding a more casual, boyish charm. Though its usage as a formal given name has declined since its peak, it remains recognized as both a nickname and standalone name. Donny carries a nostalgic appeal for many, evoking the easy-going American culture of the 1960s and 1970s, while still functioning as a personable, unpretentious option for boys today.
- Shawna
Description:
Shawna is a feminine name that emerged as an Anglicized form of Siobhan, the Irish variation of Joan or Joanna, ultimately meaning 'God is gracious.' The name gained significant popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, peaking in the early 1980s when it ranked in the top 200 girls' names. Shawna offers a more intuitive spelling for English speakers compared to the traditional Irish spelling while maintaining its melodic sound. The name carries a friendly, approachable quality with its soft consonants and balanced syllables. Though less common for babies born in recent decades, Shawna retains a warm, unpretentious charm that connects to Irish heritage without requiring pronunciation guidance.
- Salina
Description:
Salina is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Spanish, it derives from 'sal' meaning 'salt,' often referring to salt flats or salt mines. The name also has Greek roots, possibly connected to 'selene' meaning 'moon.' In Arabic culture, Salina (or Salima) means 'peace' or 'safe.' The name appears in various forms across different countries, including the Italian Selina and the Hebrew Selina. Salina has maintained steady but modest popularity, appealing to parents seeking a melodic name with cross-cultural appeal. Its gentle sound and natural connection (to salt or the moon) make it attractive, while remaining distinctive enough that most Salinas won't share their name with many classmates.