Kentucky's most popular baby names in 1974

In the year 1974, Kentucky saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. The top baby girl names of the year were Jennifer, Angela, and Melissa. These names were a reflection of the popular culture of the time, with Jennifer being inspired by the hit movie "The Exorcist" and Angela being a nod to the popular TV show "Welcome Back, Kotter". Melissa, on the other hand, was a classic name that had been in use for many years.

For baby boys, Michael, James, and Christopher were the most popular names in Kentucky in 1974. These names were also influenced by popular culture, with Michael being inspired by the hit song "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae and James being a classic name that had been in use for centuries. Christopher, meanwhile, was a name that had been growing in popularity throughout the 1970s and continued to be a popular choice for parents in Kentucky and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in Kentucky in 1974

According to the data from 1974, Jennifer was the most popular baby girl name in Kentucky with 1104 occurrences. Angela followed closely behind with 698 occurrences, while Melissa, Amy, and Kimberly rounded out the top five with 612, 562, and 477 occurrences respectively.

  1. Jennifer

    1104 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Jennifer

    The name Jennifer is of Welsh origin and means "fair and smooth". It was first used as a given name in the United States in the 20th century and became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

  2. Angela

    698 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Angela

    The name Angela is derived from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger of God". It is a feminine name that has been used in various cultures and languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and German. Angela is often associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and grace.

  3. Melissa

    612 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Melissa

    The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." It was a popular name in ancient Greece and is often associated with sweetness and industriousness.

  4. Amy

    562 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Amy

    The name Amy means "beloved" or "dearly loved" in French and Latin. It is a popular name for girls and has been used since the Middle Ages.

  5. Kimberly

    477 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Kimberly

    The name Kimberly means "from the wood of the royal forest" or "royal fortress meadow". It is of Old English origin and was first used as a given name in the 1940s.

  6. Stephanie

    469 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Stephanie

    The name Stephanie is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a feminine name that has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 20th century.

  7. Heather

    395 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Heather

    The name Heather is of English origin and is derived from the name of a flowering plant that grows in Scotland. The name is often associated with the color purple and is said to symbolize admiration, good luck, and protection.

  8. Rebecca

    381 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Rebecca

    Rebecca means "captivating" or "knotted cord" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament.

  9. Michelle

    371 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Michelle

    Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin. The name means "who is like God" or "gift from God." It is a variation of the name Michael, which comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God." The name Michelle has been used in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century and has gained popularity over time.

  10. Mary

    343 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Mary

    Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.

  11. Lisa

    323 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Lisa

    The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".

  12. Tonya

    308 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Tonya

    The name Tonya is a feminine given name of uncertain origin and meaning. It is believed to be a variant of the name Tanya or Tania, which may have Slavic or Latin roots. The name Tonya has been popularized in the United States since the mid-20th century.

  13. Shannon

    299 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Shannon

    The name Shannon is of Irish origin and is derived from the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. The name means "wise river" or "old river". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.

  14. Tammy

    293 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Tammy

    The name Tammy is a diminutive form of the name Tamara, which has Hebrew origins and means "palm tree" or "date tree". The exact meaning of Tammy is unclear, but it is generally considered to be a modern English name that is derived from Tamara.

  15. April

    250 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named April

    April is a feminine given name that is derived from the name of the fourth month of the year. The name April has no specific meaning beyond being associated with the spring season in which the month of April falls.

  16. Tina

    244 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Tina

    The name Tina is a diminutive form of Christina, which is derived from the Greek name Christos, meaning "anointed one" or "follower of Christ." Therefore, the name Tina can be interpreted as "follower of Christ" or "anointed one."

  17. Tracy

    222 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Tracy

    The name Tracy is of Irish origin and means "warrior" or "fighter". It is a unisex name, but more commonly used for girls.

  18. Elizabeth

    213 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Elizabeth

    Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.

  19. Christy

    202 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Christy

    The name Christy is a variant of the name Christina or Christine, which means "follower of Christ" or "anointed one".

  20. Susan

    198 baby girls born in Kentucky (1974) named Susan

    The name Susan means "lily" or "graceful lily" in Hebrew. It was a popular name in the 1940s and 1950s, but has since declined in popularity.

Most popular baby boy names in Kentucky in 1974

According to data from 1974, the most popular baby boy names in Kentucky were Michael, James, Christopher, Jason, and Robert. Michael was the most popular name with 1196 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 1160 babies. Christopher and Jason were also popular choices with 1156 and 1063 babies respectively. Robert rounded out the top five with 768 babies given that name.

  1. Michael

    1196 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Michael

    The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.

  2. James

    1160 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named James

    The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".

  3. Christopher

    1156 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Christopher

    The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."

  4. Jason

    1063 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Jason

    The name Jason is of Greek origin and means "healer" or "to heal".

  5. Robert

    768 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Robert

    The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.

  6. William

    733 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named William

    The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.

  7. David

    727 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named David

    The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.

  8. John

    709 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named John

    The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.

  9. Brian

    657 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Brian

    The name Brian is of Irish origin and means "strong, virtuous, and honorable". It is a popular name for boys in Ireland and has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.

  10. Charles

    456 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Charles

    The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.

  11. Kevin

    420 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Kevin

    The name Kevin is of Irish origin and means "handsome" or "gentle birth". It is derived from the Irish name CaoimhĂ­n, which is composed of the Gaelic words "caomh" meaning "kind" or "gentle" and "gin" meaning "birth".

  12. Joseph

    400 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  13. Steven

    366 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Steven

    The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.

  14. Mark

    348 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Mark

    The name Mark is derived from the Latin name "Marcus" which means "dedicated to Mars", the Roman god of war. It is a popular name among Christians as it is the name of one of the four Gospel writers in the New Testament. The name Mark is also associated with qualities such as courage, strength, and leadership.

  15. Matthew

    347 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Matthew

    Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".

  16. Timothy

    345 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Timothy

    The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.

  17. Thomas

    314 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Thomas

    The name Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin". It is a common name in many cultures and has been used for centuries.

  18. Anthony

    310 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Anthony

    The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".

  19. Eric

    303 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Eric

    The name Eric is of Scandinavian origin and means "eternal ruler" or "ruler of all". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures.

  20. Richard

    293 baby boys born in Kentucky (1974) named Richard

    The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".