<P> The term "Generation X" has been used at various times throughout history to describe alienated youth . In the 1950s, Hungarian photographer Robert Capa used Generation X as the title for a photo - essay about young men and women growing up immediately following World War II . In 1976, English musician Billy Idol used the moniker as the name for a punk rock band, based on the title of a 1965 book on popular youth culture by two British journalists, Jane Deverson and Charles Hamblett . </P> <P> The term acquired its modern definition after the release of Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, a 1991 novel written by Canadian author Douglas Coupland . Demographer Neil Howe noted the delay in naming this demographic cohort saying, "Over 30 years after their birthday, they didn't have a name . I think that's germane ." Previously, the cohort had been referred to as Post-Boomers, Baby Busters, New Lost Generation, Latch - key kids, MTV Generation, and the 13th Generation (they were described as the 13th generation since American independence). </P> <P> Demographer William Strauss observed that Coupland applied the term to older members of the cohort born between 1961 and 1964, who were sometimes told by demographers that they were baby boomers, but who did not feel like boomers . Strauss also noted that around the time Coupland's 1991 novel was published the symbol "X" was prominent in popular culture, as the film Malcolm X was released in 1992, and that the name "Generation X" ended up sticking . The "X" refers to an unknown variable or to a desire not to be defined . </P> <P> Generation X is the demographic cohort following the post--World War II baby boom, representing a generational change from the baby boomers, but there is debate over what this means because the end date of the baby boomer generation is disputed . Research from MetLife examining the boomers split their cohort into "older boomers", which they defined as born between 1946 and 1955, and "younger boomers", which they defined as born between 1956 and 1964 . They found much of the cultural identity of the baby boomer generation is associated with the "older boomers", while half of the "younger boomers" were averse to being associated with the baby boomer cohort and a third of those born between 1956 and 1964 actively identified as members of Generation X . </P>

Where does the term generation x come from