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 New York 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 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,395
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 473 (#370 most common name, -96.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 187,490 (#23 most common name)
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2 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,655
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 359 (#440 most common name, -97.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)
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3 / 30Frank is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 14,492
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 766 (#260 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 87,150 (#43 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
4 / 30Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 14,556
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,016 (#43 most common name, -72.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 97,108 (#38 most common name)
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5 / 30Eric is a name of Norse origin meaning "sole ruler".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 15,584
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,314 (#154 most common name, -91.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 152,216 (#28 most common name)
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6 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 16,724
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 742 (#267 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 152,231 (#27 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
7 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,472
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,490 (#49 most common name, -80.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 249,388 (#17 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
8 / 30Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 18,645
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,483 (#133 most common name, -92.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 143,980 (#29 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
9 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 18,844
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 820 (#248 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 227,514 (#21 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
10 / 30Peter is a name of Greek origin meaning "rock".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 20,178
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,320 (#153 most common name, -93.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 92,403 (#42 most common name)
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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
11 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 20,446
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,200 (#175 (tie) most common name, -94.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
12 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 20,708
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,048 (#204 most common name, -94.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 258,119 (#16 most common name)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
13 / 30Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 22,456
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 297 (#519 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 266,823 (#15 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
14 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 23,063
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 680 (#287 (tie) most common name, -97.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
15 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 24,811
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7,283 (#12 most common name, -70.6% 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".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 25,097
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,094 (#98 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
17 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 25,637
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 965 (#218 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 26,673
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,431 (#139 (tie) most common name, -94.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
19 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 28,323
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6,009 (#21 most common name, -78.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 203,145 (#22 most common name)
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20 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 28,517
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,583 (#36 most common name, -83.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 237,144 (#20 most common name)
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21 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 32,786
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,294 (#155 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 441,381 (#6 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
22 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 39,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,217 (#169 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 373,894 (#8 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
23 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 39,592
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,939 (#22 (tie) most common name, -85.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 421,411 (#7 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
24 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 39,635
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,275 (#39 most common name, -89.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
25 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 42,714
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8,554 (#7 most common name, -80.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)
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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
26 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 56,016
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7,673 (#8 most common name, -86.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 59,307
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7,344 (#10 most common name, -87.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 733,939 (#2 most common name)
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
28 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 64,368
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,782 (#67 most common name, -95.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock
29 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 76,286
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,351 (#26 most common name, -93.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)
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30 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
New York
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 86,244
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8,557 (#6 most common name, -90.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 833,070 (#1 most common name)
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