60s Names for Infants: Meanings and Origins

September 2, 2024

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The preferred ‘60s names shouldn’t come as an enormous shock. The truth is, lots of them are nonetheless extensively used in the present day. (John, a lot?) It’s extremely possible that the identify of a minimum of one individual in your life born within the Nineteen Sixties—a member of the family, a trainer, a boss, and so forth.—will seem on this record. For a decade outlined by a lot cultural and technological change, the identify traits remained largely constant in america.

What has modified, nonetheless? A number of of the preferred child names of the Nineteen Sixties are actually stylish as gender-neutral choices, like Robin and Perry. And since so many of those names are actually related to our dad and mom and grandparents, they’ve began to fall out of favor lately—which suggests they’re due for a comeback quickly.

So whether or not you’re in search of a traditional identify or only a actually huge fan of Mad Males and mid-century furnishings, think about considered one of these ‘60s names in your baby.

Mother and father / Getty Pictures

Though many child names are sometimes separated by gender, Mother and father believes that intercourse doesn’t must play a job in choosing names. It is necessary to decide on a reputation you are feeling suits your little one finest.

Widespread ’60s Names for Boys

Mother and father preferring extra established names over quirky, uncommon picks will discover a whole lot of inspiration among the many hottest ‘60s names for boys. However in order for you one thing with a classic really feel that doesn’t really feel too overdone, think about one of many many cute nicknames and variations you’ll discover included on this record.

Michael

Origin: Hebrew
That means: Who’s like God?
Various Spellings & Variations: Mike, Mick

David

Origin: Hebrew
That means: Beloved
Various Spellings & Variations: Dave, Davey, Davy

John

Origin: Hebrew
That means: God is gracious
Various Spellings & Variations: Jon, Johnny, Jonathan, Jack

Robert

Origin: English, German
That means: Vibrant fame
Various Spellings & Variations: Rob, Bob, Bobby, Robb, Robby, Robbie

Mark

Origin: Latin
That means: Warlike
Various Spellings & Variations: Marc

William

Origin: German
That means: Resolute safety
Various Spellings & Variations: Will, Invoice, Wilhelm, Billy, Liam, Will

Richard

Origin: German
That means: Dominant ruler
Various Spellings & Variations: Wealthy, Dick, Rick, Richie, Dickie, Ricky

Thomas

Origin: Aramaic
That means: Twin
Various Spellings & Variations: Tommy, Tommie, Tom, Tomas

Jeffrey

Origin: German, English
That means: Pledge of peace
Various Spellings & Variations: Jeff, Geoffrey

Steven

Origin: Greek
That means: Garland, crown
Various Spellings & Variations: Stephen, Steve, Stevie, Stevan, Stevon

Extra ’60s Names for Boys

Joseph: This traditional boy identify comes with a whole lot of choices for nicknames and variations, together with Joe, Joey, Jose, and Josef amongst them. For female choices, you can think about Josephine, Josie, or Joanne.
Timothy: Timothy reached its peak reputation in america in 1967, when 28,587 child boys got the primary identify.
Kevin: Derived from the Irish identify Caoimhín, Kevin means “good-looking.” An ideal child identify in your little cutie, no?
Scott: There are a number of well-known namesakes who may encourage you to call your little one Scott, together with novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, composer Scott Joplin, or possibly even the graphic novel and film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Brian: A local Irish identify, it was outlawed within the nation throughout centuries of British rule till after the warfare for Irish independence in 1916.
Charles: Whereas Charles continues to be mostly used as a boy identify, the by-product Charlie has turn out to be a particularly in style gender-neutral alternative.
Paul: When you’re in search of a pop-culture impressed Nineteen Sixties identify, why not go together with essentially the most well-known Paul of the last decade, Beatles singer and songwriter Paul McCartney?

Widespread ’60s Names For Ladies

The highest ‘60s lady names additionally occur to make nice center names. Easy and acquainted, these names would pair nicely with a contemporary or extra “on the market” first identify.

Lisa

Origin: Hebrew, English
That means: Pledged to God
Various Spellings & Variations: Leesa, Liza, Lysa

Mary

Origin: Hebrew
That means: Drop of the ocean, bitter, or beloved
Various Spellings & Variations: Mari, Maria, Mariam, Marie, Maryam

Susan

Origin: English, Hebrew
That means: Lily
Various Spellings & Variations: Susannah, Susanna, Sue, Susie, Suzy, Suzanne

Karen

Origin: Danish
That means: Pure
Various Spellings & Variations: Caren, Caryn, Karan, Karin, Karyn, Kerryn

Enjoyable Truth

As soon as the identify Karen grew to become a meme as shorthand for a white girl with unhealthy habits, the identify drastically fell in reputation and is now not discovered among the many high 1,000 child names within the US after spending a century on the record.

Kimberly

Origin: English
That means: Cyneburga’s meadow
Various Spellings & Variations: Kimberley, Kim, Kimberlee

Patricia

Origin: Latin
That means: Noble, patrician
Various Spellings & Variations: Patti, Pat, Patsy

Linda

Origin: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
That means: Fairly
Various Spellings & Variations: Lynda, Linde

Donna

Origin: Italian
That means: Girl
Various Spellings & Variations: Dona, Dawna

Michelle

Origin: French
That means: Who’s like God
Various Spellings & Variations: Michele, Shelly

Cynthia

Origin: Greek
That means: Moon goddess
Various Spellings & Variations: Cindy, Cinthia, Cyndi, Cyndy, Cinny, Thea

Extra ’60s Names for Ladies

Sandra: The widespread attraction of Gidget actor Sandra Dee induced this child identify to skyrocket within the ‘60s—and impressed that Grease hit you may’t get out of your head.
Deborah: This identify, which suggests bee, comes with a whole lot of variations and nicknames. Deb, Debra, and Debbie are the obvious ones, however there are attention-grabbing and fewer frequent picks like Devorah and Debs as nicely.
Tammy: Tammy, brief for Tamara, hasn’t appeared within the high 1,000 child names within the US since 1998. Maybe it’s time for a comeback?
Pamela: Pamela has, definitely, the sweetest that means of any identify on this record: The English identify stands for “all honey.”
Lori: Lori and Laurie—each derived from Laura—had been in style as a child identify for Boomers, solely to be surpassed by Lauren for child Gen Xers and Millennials within the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Laura: After all, the OG identify for Lori, Laura, was additionally steadily in style within the mid-century and stays so in the present day.
Elizabeth: One of the in style ladies’ names ever, this timeless alternative additionally comes with a number of customizable nicknames like Eliza, Lizzie, Liz, Betsy, and so forth.

Widespread Gender-Impartial ’60s Names

Mother and father of the Nineteen Sixties could not have been as thoughtful of gender-neutral names as they’re in the present day, however there’s a whole lot of inspiration to be discovered among the many trendiest child names of the last decade.

James

Origin: English, Hebrew
That means: Supplanter
Various Spellings & Variations: Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Terry

Origin: English, Latin
That means: A diminutive of Terence or Theresa
Various Spellings & Variations: Terri, Teri, Terrie

Tony

Origin: Latin
That means: Priceless one
Various Spellings & Variations: Toni, Tonie, Toney, Tonnie, Tonny

Danny

Origin: Hebrew
That means: God is my choose
Various Spellings & Variations: Dani, Danni, Dannei, Dany

Shawn

Origin: Irish
That means: God is gracious
Various Spellings & Variations: Sean

Robin

Origin: English
That means: Vibrant fame
Various Spellings & Variations: Robyn, Robine

Jamie

Origin: Hebrew, Scottish
That means: Supplanter
Various Spellings & Variations: Jaime, Jayme, Jamey

Francis

Origin: Latin
That means: Free man
Various Spellings & Variations: Frances

Leslie

Origin: Scottish
That means: Backyard of holly
Various Spellings & Variations: Lesly, Lesley

Perry

Origin: English
That means: Dweller close to a pear tree
Various Spellings & Variations: Peri, Perrie, Perri

Extra Gender-Impartial ’60s Names

Jo: Jo is a straightforward approach to honor members of the family with longer “Jo-” names, corresponding to Joseph, Joanna or Joanne, Josephine, Joshua, and Josiah.
Lonnie: When you’re not offered on the spelling of Lonnie, different choices may very well be Lon, Lonny, Loni, or Lou.
Kerry: This Irish identify means “darkish or darkish haired,” so possibly preserve it on the brief record for those who’re anticipating your baby to have raven hair.
Jesse: Historically, Jesse has been used as a boys’ identify whereas the spelling Jessie was extra frequent for ladies. However who’s to say they will’t be interchangeable?
Kelly: Kelly, an Irish identify which means warfare, was largely used as a boys’ identify till the late Fifties, when it began to achieve traction as each a unisex and ladies’ identify.
Tracy: Some well-known people with the identify Tracy or Tracey embrace comic Tracy Morgan, singer Tracy Chapman, and actor Tracy Letts.
Ronnie: A by-product of each Ronald and Veronica, Ronnie (or Rony/Roni, for those who desire different spellings) has a pleasant playful, youthful vibe to it.