1960s Baby Names: Meanings and Origins

The most popular names of the 1960s are no surprise. In fact, many of them are still widely used today. (John, that’s a lot?) It’s likely that the name of at least one person in your life who was born in the 1960s—family member, teacher, boss, etc.—appears on this list. In a decade that saw so much cultural and technological change, name trends in the United States remained largely consistent.

However, what has changed? Some of the most popular baby names of the 1960s have become popular unisex names today, such as Robin and Perry. Since many of these names are now associated with our parents and grandparents, they’ve started to fall out of favor in recent years – which means they’ll soon be making a comeback.

So whether you’re looking for a classic name or you’re just a big fan mad Men and mid-century furniture, consider one of these 60s names for your child.

Popular Boy Names from the 1960s

Parents who prefer more mature names to quirky, unusual names will find plenty of inspiration in the most popular boys’ names of the ’60s. However, if you want something that has a retro feel without being too over the top, consider one of the many cute nicknames and variations you’ll find included in this list.

Michael

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: Who can be like God?
• Alternative spellings and variations: Mike, Mick

david

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: Honey
• Alternative spellings and variations: Dave, Dave, Dave

John

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: God is merciful
• Alternative spellings and variations: Jon, Johnny, Jonathan, Jack

Robert

• origin: English, German
• significance: Brilliant reputation
• Alternative spellings and variations: Rob, Bob, Bobby, Rob, Robbie, Robbie

mark

• origin:Latin
• significance: belligerent
• Alternative spellings and variations:mark

William

• origin:German
• significance: resolutely protect
• Alternative spellings and variations: Will, Bill, William, Billy, Liam, Will

Richard

• origin:German
• significance: ruler
• Alternative spellings and variations:Rich, Dick, Rick, Rich, Dicky, Ricky

Thomas

• origin: Aramaic
• significance: Twin room
• Alternative spellings and variations: Tommy, Tommy, Tom, Thomas

Jeffrey

• origin: German, English
• significance: Pledge of Peace
• Alternative spellings and variations: Jeff, Jeffrey

steven

• origin:Greek
• significance: garland, crown
• Alternative spellings and variations:Stephen, Steve, Stevie, Steven, Steven

More 1960s Boy Names

• Joseph: This classic boy’s name has many nicknames and variations to choose from, including Joe, Joey, Jose, and Joseph. For a feminine option, you might consider Josephine, Josie, or Joanne.
• Timothy: Timothy’s popularity peaked in the United States in 1967, when 28,587 baby boys were given the name.
• Kevin: Kevin is derived from the Irish name Caoimhín, which means “handsome”. A perfect baby name for your little cutie, isn’t it?
• Scott: There are several famous namesakes who might inspire you to name your child Scott, including novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, composer Scott Joplin, and maybe even a graphic novel and movies Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
• Brian: It was a native Irish name that was outlawed in the country during centuries of British rule until the end of the Irish War of Independence in 1916.
• Charles: While Charles is still most commonly used as a boy’s name, the derivative Charlie has become a very popular unisex choice.
• Paul: If you’re looking for a name inspired by 1960s pop culture, why not choose the decade’s most famous Paul, Beatles singer-songwriter Paul McCartney?

Popular girl names in the 1960s

The hottest girls’ names of the ’60s also happened to make great middle names. These names are simple and familiar, making them perfect to pair with more modern or more “famous” names.

Lisa

• origin: Hebrew, English
• significance: Make a wish to God
• Alternative spellings and variations: Lisa, Lisa, Lisa

Mary

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: A drop of the sea, bitter, but still beloved
• Alternative spellings and variations: Mary, Maria, Mariam, Mary, Mariam

Susan

• origin: English, Hebrew
• significance: Lily
• Alternative spellings and variations: Suzanne, Suzanne, Sue, Suzy, Susie, Suzanne

Karen

• origin: danish
• significance: pure
• Alternative spellings and variations: Karen, Karin, Carla, Karin, Karin, Kailin

Kimberley

• origin: English
• significance: Cyneburga meadows
• Alternative spellings and variations: Kimberly, Kim, Kimberly

Patricia

• origin:Latin
• significance: nobility, nobility
• Alternative spellings and variations: Patty, Pat, Patsy

Linda

• origin: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
• significance: beautiful
• Alternative spellings and variations: Linda, Linde

donna

• origin: Italian
• significance: Miss
• Alternative spellings and variations:Donna,Donna

Michelle

• origin: French
• significance: Who can be like God?
• Alternative spellings and variations: Michelle, Shirley

Cynthia

• origin:Greek
• significance: Moon Goddess
• Alternative spellings and variations: Cindy, Cynthia, Cindy, Cindy, Cinnie, Thea

More 1960s Girl Names

• Sandra: widespread appeal gadget Actress Sandra Dee made this baby name take off in the ’60s and inspired it grease Blows you can’t get out of your head.
• Deborah: The name means bee and has many variations and nicknames. Deb, Debra, and Debbie are the most obvious choices, but there are also some interesting and less common choices, such as Devorah and Debs.
• Tammy: Tammy, short for Tamara, has not appeared in the top 1,000 baby names in the United States since 1998.
• Pamela: There is no doubt that Pamela has the sweetest meaning of all the names on this list: the English name means “all honey.”
• Lowry: Lori and Laurie (both derived from Laura) were popular as Baby Boomer baby names, but Lauren surpassed it among Gen X and Millennial baby names in the ’80s and ’90s.
• Laura: Of course, Lori’s original name, Laura, also remained popular in the mid-century and remains so today.
• Elizabeth: One of the most popular girls’ names of all time, this timeless choice also comes with dozens of customizable nicknames like Eliza, Lizzie, Liz, Betsy and more.

Popular unisex names from the 1960s

Parents in the 1960s may not have considered unisex names as much as they do today, but there was plenty of inspiration to be found among the decade’s most popular baby names.

james

• origin: English, Hebrew
• significance:cover
• Alternative spellings and variations: Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Cui

• origin: English, Latin
• significance:terrence or theresa’s little man
• Alternative spellings and variations: Terry, Terry, Terry

Tony

• origin:Latin
• significance: priceless treasure
• Alternative spellings and variations: Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony

Danny

• origin:Hebrew
• significance: God is my judge
• Alternative spellings and variations: Dani, Danni, Dannei, Dany

Sean

• origin:Irish
• significance: God is merciful
• Alternative spellings and variations: Sean

Robin

• origin: English
• significance: Brilliant reputation
• Alternative spellings and variations: Robin, Robin

Jamie

• origin: Hebrew, Scots
• significance:cover
• Alternative spellings and variations: Jamie, Jamie, Jamie

Francis

• origin:Latin
• significance: free man
• Alternative spellings and variations:Francis

Leslie

• origin: Scotland
• significance: Holly Garden
• Alternative spellings and variations: Leslie, Leslie

Perry

• origin: English
• significance: Residents near Pear Tree
• Alternative spellings and variations: Perry, Perry, Perry

More gender-neutral 60s names

• Joe: Jo is a simple way to honor family members with longer “Jo-” names, such as Joseph, Joanna or Joanne, Josephine, Joshua and Josiah.
• Lonnie: If you don’t like the spelling of Lonnie, other options might be Lon, Lonny, Loni or Lou.
• Carey: This Irish name means “dark or dark-haired,” so if you want your child to have jet-black hair, keep it on your shortlist.
• Jesse: Traditionally, Jesse is used as a boy’s name, while the spelling Jessie is more common for girls. But who says they’re not interchangeable?
• Kelly: Kelly is an Irish name meaning war, and until the late 1950s it was primarily used as a boys’ name, when it began to gain traction as a unisex name and as a girls’ name.
• Trish: Some famous people named Tracy or Tracey include comedian Tracy Morgan, singer Tracy Chapman, and actress Tracy Letts.
• Ronnie: Ronnie (or Rony/Roni, if you prefer another spelling) is a spin-off of Ronald and Veronica, with a playful, youthful vibe.