Hey Jennifer! What’s up, Michelle? Shout outs to Amy, Melissa, Lisa, and Stephanie!
Ever wonder why you don’t meet any preschoolers with these names? Well, if you’re a mom of a certain age (that being, um, the tail-end of your 30s through your 40s), there’s a good chance we’ve just called out your name — or, at least, the names of some close girlfriends and relatives.
But trends come and ago — and we’re kinda into the retro thing here at Kveller — so we decided to look at names that were most popular in the 1970s for some fresh baby-name inspiration.
The Social Security Administration has this official list of the 200 most popular names of the 1970s. Working from that, we’ve teased out the most fashionable Jewish names from the list. So if you’re looking for a name that’s not quite an “oldie but goodie” — but, alas, is well on its way to that status — read on.
And if you’re in need of more inspiration, don’t forget to check out our baby naming guide.
Boys
1. Michael. Michael is a Hebrew name meaning “who is like God.” Michael is also the name of an angel in Jewish tradition.
2. David. David is a Hebrew boy’s name that means “beloved.” David was the second king of Israel.
3. Joseph. Joseph is a Hebrew boy’s name that means “increase.” Joseph was one of the sons of Jacob and a leader of the Israelites in Egypt.
4. Daniel. Daniel means “God is my judge” in Hebrew.
5. Jonathan. Jonathan is Hebrew for “God has given.” Yonatan was the son of Saul who became the best friend of King David. You can, of course, use Jon or Jonny for short.
6. Gabriel. Gabriel is a Hebrew name meaning “strength of God.” It is also the name of an angel in Jewish tradition.
7. Jared. Jared means “servant.” Jared was the sixth link in the ten pre-flood generations between Adam and Noah; he was the son of Mahalaleel and the father of Enoch.
8. Zachary. Zachary means “memory of God.” Zechariya was a prophet of the people Israel.
9. Samuel. Samuel is a Hebrew name meaning “God has heard.” Samuel the prophet anointed the first two kings of Israel.
Girls
1. Rebecca. Rebecca is a Hebrew girl’s name meaning “captivating.” In the Bible, Rebecca, one of the matriarchs, was the wife of Isaac.
2. Sarah. Sarah is a Hebrew name meaning “princess.” In the Bible, Sarah, the first matriarch, was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.
3. Rachel. Rachel is a Hebrew name meaning “ewe.” In the Bible, Rachel, one of the matriarchs, was the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
4. Joanna. Joanna is a Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious.” We are a bit partial to this name.
5. Danielle. Danielle, or Daniella, is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my judge.”
6. Deborah. Deborah is a Hebrew girl’s name meaning “bee.” Deborah is one of the few women prophets in the Bible.
7. Sharon. Sharon is a Hebrew girl’s name meaning “the coastal plain of Israel.”
8. Barbara. Barbara is a girl’s name that means “stranger.” While it’s not a Hebrew name, it was popular among Jewish immigrants who came to the U.S.
9. Leah. Leah is a Hebrew girl’s name meaning “delicate.” In the Bible, Leah was one of Jacob’s wives.
Check out our Jewish baby name bank for more inspiration.
Image: lobstar28
