Every new parent faces the difficult decision of choosing the perfect name for a newborn. First names rarely get changed after being assigned and carry with them a wide range of meanings and associations. This creates a lot of pressure on expectant parents to pick the perfect moniker for their little ones.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many parents end up choosing the same names over and over. Research suggests that we pick specific names implying desired characteristics about our children, selecting names for boys and girls intended to shape them. Male monikers are commonly inspired by political, cultural, and personal influences that suggest good, masculine, and well-rounded people.
The 1960s are commonly associated with tie-dye-clad hippies, psychedelic experimentation, and rock 'n' roll icons like the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. But underneath the flower power, free love exterior, the '60s were a period of radical social and political change—not only in the United States but around the world. The decade was one characterized by a host of juxtapositions; anger and fear over injustice and uneasy political conditions lived alongside notions of musical awakening and pacifist harmony.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the '60s in California using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born from 1960 to 1969. The names in this list represent the distinct intersection of Baby Boomer and Gen X and a reflection of some of the most well-known celebrities, musicians, and trends of the time. Keep reading to see if your name was among the most popular in the '60s in your home state.
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Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
1 / 30Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 11,907
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16,007 (#10 most common name, +34.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 105,943 (#36 most common name)
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2 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,042 (#360 most common name, -91.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 152,231 (#27 most common name)
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
3 / 30Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,606 (#172 most common name, -79.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 143,980 (#29 most common name)
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4 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 14,444
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 387 (#698 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 172,620 (#25 most common name)
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5 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 15,267
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#812 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,016 (#26 most common name)
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6 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 16,943
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 788 (#440 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 187,490 (#23 most common name)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
7 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,009
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,938 (#98 most common name, -71.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 249,388 (#17 most common name)
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
8 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,717
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 477 (#618 most common name, -97.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)
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9 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 19,225
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,345 (#22 most common name, -35.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 203,145 (#22 most common name)
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10 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 19,369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,522 (#281 most common name, -92.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 227,514 (#21 most common name)
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11 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 19,395
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,866 (#237 most common name, -90.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
12 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 19,528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10,692 (#31 most common name, -45.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
13 / 30Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 20,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,949 (#120 most common name, -80.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 152,216 (#28 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
14 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 22,177
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,771 (#77 most common name, -74.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
15 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 22,245
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8,836 (#45 most common name, -60.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 237,144 (#20 most common name)
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16 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 22,810
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,657 (#262 (tie) most common name, -92.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
17 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 23,302
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,150 (#207 most common name, -90.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 258,119 (#16 most common name)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 23,482
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,050 (#93 most common name, -78.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)
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19 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 23,774
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,061 (#354 most common name, -95.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
20 / 30Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 24,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 536 (#569 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 266,823 (#15 most common name)
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21 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 25,683
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17,356 (#7 most common name, -32.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,014 (#19 most common name)
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
22 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 29,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11,156 (#30 most common name, -61.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 421,411 (#7 most common name)
Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
23 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 31,045
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,705 (#168 most common name, -91.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)
Irisska // Shutterstock
24 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 39,048
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,788 (#163 most common name, -92.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 373,894 (#8 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
25 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 41,520
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,223 (#202 most common name, -94.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 441,381 (#6 most common name)
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26 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 49,784
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,971 (#19 most common name, -73.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)
Capable97 // Shutterstock
27 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 63,004
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,243 (#89 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
28 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 63,209
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6,234 (#73 most common name, -90.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 72,675
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13,006 (#18 most common name, -82.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 733,939 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
California
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 78,987
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,856 (#20 most common name, -83.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 833,070 (#1 most common name)
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