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 North Dakota 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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DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
1 / 30Kelly is a name of Irish origin meaning "bright-headed".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 420
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,052 (#30 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
2 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 422
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 151,790 (#25 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
3 / 30Shelly is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "sloped meadow".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 425
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 35,626 (#108 most common name)
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4 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
5 / 30Cindy is a name of Greek origin meaning "woman from Mount Kynthos".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 436
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 91,594 (#46 most common name)
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Darren Brode // Shutterstock
6 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 437
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 174,181 (#16 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
7 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 439
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 112,332 (#38 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
8 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 457
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,452 (#36 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
9 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 474
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 135,646 (#28 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
10 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 498
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,823 (#29 most common name)
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11 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 499
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, -99.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
12 / 30Laurie is a name of Latin origin meaning "sweet bay tree".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 521
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 74,449 (#58 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
13 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 525
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)
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14 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
15 / 30Dawn is a name of English origin meaning "daybreak".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,292 (#37 most common name)
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16 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 568
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)
photoDiod // Shutterstock
17 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 604
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,844 (#11 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 636
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 225,445 (#7 most common name)
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19 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 642
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 181,938 (#14 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
20 / 30Tammy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "palm tree".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 706
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,224 (#13 most common name)
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21 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 752
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 142,723 (#26 most common name)
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22 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 800
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
23 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 952
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#343 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 208,296 (#9 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
24 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 965
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#343 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
25 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,050
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#343 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,496 (#19 most common name)
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26 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,085
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#343 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 30Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#343 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,149 (#18 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
28 / 30Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#343 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 176,561 (#15 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
29 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,241
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#160 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
30 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,503
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#160 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 496,983 (#1 most common name)
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