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 girls in the '60s in Illinois 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.
You may also like: The 20 most affordable cities in Illinois to buy a house
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
1 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,751
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 112 (#596 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 135,646 (#28 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
2 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,858
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#2098 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,452 (#36 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1126 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,823 (#29 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
4 / 30Tammy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "palm tree".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,343
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1126 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,224 (#13 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
5 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,532
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#1475 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 154,893 (#23 most common name)
You may also like: Biggest exports from Illinois
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
6 / 30Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,582
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 451 (#255 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,289 (#22 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
7 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,709
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#949 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 120,950 (#32 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
8 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,932
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#1082 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)
Matva // Shutterstock
9 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,976
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#1210 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 142,723 (#26 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
10 / 30Dawn is a name of English origin meaning "daybreak".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1803 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,292 (#37 most common name)
You may also like: Biggest cities in Illinois 150 years ago
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
11 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,337
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1803 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
12 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,439
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,735 (#15 most common name, -71.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 168,915 (#17 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#1180 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 139,339 (#27 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
14 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,569
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 272 (#417 most common name, -97.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,414 (#20 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
15 / 30Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,963
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#2259 most common name, -99.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 176,561 (#15 most common name)
You may also like: Highest-rated scenic drives in Illinois by visitors
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
16 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,966
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#2510 (tie) most common name, -99.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 181,938 (#14 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
17 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,065
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#983 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,844 (#11 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
18 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,142
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#1402 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,432 (#12 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
19 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,564
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1874 (tie) most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
20 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 11,131
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 156 (#670 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)
You may also like: Hottest Decembers in Illinois since 1895
Mcimage // Shutterstock
21 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,463
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 488 (#231 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 208,296 (#9 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
22 / 30Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,535
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 152 (#690 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,149 (#18 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
23 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,279
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
24 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,316
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 225,445 (#7 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
25 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 14,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 285 (#396 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 174,181 (#16 most common name)
You may also like: See how popular pumpkin spice is in Illinois
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
26 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 15,867
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 595 (#179 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 16,371
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 117 (#846 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
28 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 18,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#1268 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
29 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 22,460
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 721 (#148 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 25,558
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#1285 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 496,983 (#1 most common name)
You may also like: Biggest comeback wins in Chicago Bears history
