These Were the Most Popular Kentucky Baby Names in the 1970s

I suppose I've been waiting my whole life to write this story. I only say that because of the wonderful names of the grandparents and great-uncles and great-aunts who helped raise me. Their amazing old school names were full of character.

Really Old Names You Don't Hear Much Anymore

My grandmothers were Ruby Rose and Myrtle. The latter, my paternal grandmother, had no middle name. Neither did her sisters, Aunt Dovey and Aunt Flossie. I don't know why. My family never knew why. My sister always jokingly lamented that they had nothing to fall back on. But that's when we were kids, and those names sounded really old. They still do, but I like 'em. Again, tons of character.

Victor and James (he was either called Jay or Edward, his middle name) were my grandfathers' names. The names of my great-uncles were Charlie, Authur (not Arthur), and Nauman (not Norman). Those last two sound old and certainly unique; I've never heard them again. But Victor, James, and Charlie don't sound like old names, in my opinion. I don't think older men's names age like older women's names, also in my opinion. But I love it when older names are used today.

Top Baby Names in Kentucky From the 1970s

Anyway, all of the people I've mentioned in this story, so far, were born before 1920, to give you some idea of the age of those names.

But what about popular names from 50 years ago? Stacker has compiled the most popular baby names in Kentucky from the 1970s. Here are the top dozen girls' names and boys' names from that era in the Commonwealth.