
Most popular girl names in the 70s in California
Most popular girl names in the 70s in California
While many women throughout history have achieved amazing things, most little girls’ names are popularized by the stars of the entertainment industry: a child actress who was a beacon of hope during the Great Depression; the title of a popular song; or the name fictional characters gave their baby in a sitcom.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 70s in California 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—after all, names can tell the story of a generation. Radios blaring the melodies Fleetwood Mac may have inspired parents to name their daughters after the band’s keyboardist, Christine McVie, people who came of age during the peace-and-love counterculture revolution may have been attracted to nature-inspired baby names, like Crystal, April, or Heather. Other newborns of the 1970s may have gotten their names from some of the biggest stars of the decade, like Julie Andrews or Carrie Fisher.
Keep reading to see if any familiar girls’ names (or your own!) made our list.

#50. Teresa
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,639
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 825 (#481 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #52
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 56,001
#49. Diana
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,666
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,956 (#133 most common name, -47.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #97
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 33,268

#48. Erica
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,689
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 530 (#684 most common name, -90.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #59
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 49,581

#47. Gina
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,752
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 213 (#1330 (tie) most common name, -96.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #84
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 38,068
#46. Alicia
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,768
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,022 (#195 most common name, -64.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #82
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 39,201

#45. Stacy
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,768
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 481 (#736 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 69,911

#44. Sara
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,860
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,539 (#154 most common name, -56.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #50
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 56,948

#43. Susan
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 5,888
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 314 (#1014 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #27
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 88,327

#42. Jamie
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,114
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,038 (#396 most common name, -83.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #40
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 67,812
#41. Denise
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,266
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 901 (#443 most common name, -85.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #53
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 55,860
#40. Tiffany
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,400
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,662 (#238 most common name, -74.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #42
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 65,151
#39. Danielle
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,525
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,496 (#277 most common name, -77.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #46
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 60,915

#38. Tracy
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,556
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 194 (#1431 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 95,538
#37. Dawn
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,561
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 112 (#1998 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 92,443
#36. Tina
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,699
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 332 (#977 most common name, -95.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 84,757
#35. April
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,786
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,746 (#225 most common name, -74.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 76,935
#34. Amber
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 6,916
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,806 (#219 most common name, -73.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #65
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 47,013
#33. Wendy
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,242
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 949 (#419 most common name, -86.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #36
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 74,188
#32. Amanda
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,304
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,973 (#201 most common name, -73.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 123,920

#31. Karen
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,311
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,592 (#252 most common name, -78.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 95,185
#30. Erin
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,531
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,070 (#380 most common name, -85.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #39
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 67,911
#29. Rachel
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 7,983
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,145 (#185 most common name, -73.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #33
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 77,777

#28. Mary
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 8,467
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,656 (#240 most common name, -80.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 126,279

#27. Andrea
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 9,327
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 6,383 (#47 most common name, -31.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 86,433

#26. Sandra
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 9,411
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 751 (#522 (tie) most common name, -92.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #44
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 64,310
#25. Kelly
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 9,696
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,299 (#312 most common name, -86.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 133,568

#24. Patricia
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 9,933
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 563 (#652 most common name, -94.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #30
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 81,118

#23. Veronica
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 10,296
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,239 (#323 most common name, -88.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #83
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 38,634
#22. Cynthia
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 10,325
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,337 (#305 most common name, -87.1% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 80,209

#21. Monica
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 10,576
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,213 (#336 most common name, -88.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #45
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 61,651
#20. Christine
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 10,722
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 638 (#594 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 103,241
#19. Rebecca
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 11,533
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,188 (#182 most common name, -81.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 137,312

#18. Sarah
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 11,830
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5,247 (#68 most common name, -55.6% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 118,841

#17. Shannon
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 11,881
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 276 (#1116 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 113,805

#16. Julie
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 11,947
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,194 (#341 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 121,949

#15. Laura
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 12,011
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,141 (#357 most common name, -90.5% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 118,216
#14. Angela
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 13,577
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,843 (#103 most common name, -71.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 225,222
#13. Stephanie
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 13,743
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,673 (#113 most common name, -73.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 160,470
#12. Jessica
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 14,031
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,750 (#109 most common name, -73.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 143,488
#11. Nicole
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 14,925
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,576 (#78 most common name, -69.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 144,672
#10. Elizabeth
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 15,661
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 10,360 (#16 most common name, -33.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 142,869

#9. Christina
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 16,354
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,352 (#300 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 125,747

#8. Amy
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 16,513
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,456 (#82 most common name, -73.0% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 269,009
#7. Kimberly
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 17,098
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 6,528 (#46 most common name, -61.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 229,112
#6. Heather
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 17,229
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 358 (#929 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 203,939
#5. Melissa
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 18,172
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,782 (#107 most common name, -79.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 253,291

#4. Maria
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 18,393
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,447 (#83 most common name, -75.8% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #35
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 76,102

#3. Lisa
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 21,590
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 604 (#614 most common name, -97.2% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 228,676
#2. Michelle
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 26,578
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,903 (#102 most common name, -85.3% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 249,140
#1. Jennifer
California
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 54,735
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,069 (#127 most common name, -94.4% compared to the 70s)
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 1970 to 1979: 581,791



