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 Michigan 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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1 / 30Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,386
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,915 (#44 most common name, -74.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 105,943 (#36 most common name)
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2 / 30Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,667
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 565 (#190 most common name, -92.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 152,216 (#28 most common name)
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3 / 30Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,861
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#580 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 134,993 (#30 most common name)
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4 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,937
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 115 (#628 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,016 (#26 most common name)
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5 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,987
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,928 (#43 most common name, -75.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 203,145 (#22 most common name)
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6 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,643
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 224 (#400 most common name, -97.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 172,620 (#25 most common name)
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7 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,016
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 256 (#356 most common name, -97.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 187,490 (#23 most common name)
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
8 / 30Todd is a name of English origin meaning "fox".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,135
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#985 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,744 (#31 most common name)
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9 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,303
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,005 (#37 most common name, -78.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 249,388 (#17 most common name)
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
10 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,597
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#399 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)
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11 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,917
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,528 (#64 most common name, -86.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 237,144 (#20 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 11,101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 508 (#214 most common name, -95.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 227,514 (#21 most common name)
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13 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,184
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,605 (#25 most common name, -78.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)
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14 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,706
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 499 (#216 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)
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15 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,994
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,108 (#33 most common name, -84.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,014 (#19 most common name)
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16 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 14,958
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 590 (#183 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)
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17 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 15,388
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 679 (#159 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
18 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 15,876
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#254 most common name, -97.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 258,119 (#16 most common name)
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19 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 16,033
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 528 (#204 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 373,894 (#8 most common name)
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20 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 16,400
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 460 (#225 most common name, -97.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)
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21 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,129
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,487 (#8 most common name, -79.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 421,411 (#7 most common name)
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22 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,186
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,982 (#38 most common name, -88.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)
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23 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,531
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 236 (#382 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)
Capable97 // Shutterstock
24 / 30Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 206 (#425 most common name, -98.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 266,823 (#15 most common name)
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25 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 24,137
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 456 (#228 most common name, -98.1% 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".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 30,034
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,486 (#9 most common name, -88.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
27 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 30,322
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,398 (#74 most common name, -95.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)
Minnikova Mariia // Shutterstock
28 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 30,651
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,107 (#34 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 36,538
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,980 (#39 most common name, -94.6% 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?".
Michigan
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 39,815
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,058 (#17 most common name, -92.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 833,070 (#1 most common name)
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