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 South 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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1 / 30Robin is a name of German origin meaning "fame-bright".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 445
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#1111 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 118,326 (#33 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
2 / 30Jill is a name of English origin meaning "child of the gods".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#1111 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 69,141 (#60 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
3 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 477
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#1111 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
4 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#1111 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,823 (#29 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
5 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 495
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#1111 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 135,646 (#28 most common name)
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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
6 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 499
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, -99.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 174,181 (#16 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
7 / 30Cindy is a name of Greek origin meaning "woman from Mount Kynthos".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 506
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 91,594 (#45 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
8 / 30Rhonda is a name of Welsh origin meaning "good lance".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 507
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,604 (#43 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
9 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 520
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 112,332 (#37 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
10 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 530
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)
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Bodler // Shutterstock
11 / 30Laurie is a name of Latin origin meaning "sweet bay tree".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 531
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 74,449 (#57 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
12 / 30Tammy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "palm tree".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 606
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,224 (#13 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
13 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 622
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 151,790 (#25 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
14 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 649
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
15 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 673
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)
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Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
16 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 677
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (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
17 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 688
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 181,938 (#14 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
18 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 705
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 710
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (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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20 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 772
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 (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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21 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 813
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) most common name, -98.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
22 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 856
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
23 / 30Dawn is a name of English origin meaning "daybreak".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 869
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,292 (#36 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
24 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 208,296 (#9 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
25 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,065
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) 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".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,065
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
27 / 30Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,269
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,149 (#18 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
28 / 30Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,364
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#368 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 176,561 (#15 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
29 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,421
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#187 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
30 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#187 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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