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 Arkansas 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 / 30Debbie is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,114
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#1082 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 84,195 (#52 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
2 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,175
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#1082 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 101,125 (#40 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
3 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,191
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 804 (#12 most common name, -32.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 168,915 (#17 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
4 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,262
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 73 (#390 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 174,181 (#16 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
5 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,278
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#275 most common name, -91.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 99,462 (#41 most common name)
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6 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,306
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#275 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 75,258 (#57 most common name)
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7 / 30Sheila is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "heavenly".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,414
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#275 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 74,075 (#59 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
8 / 30Sherry is a name of French origin meaning "dear".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,465
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#275 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 77,526 (#55 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,573
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#949 (tie) most common name, -99.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,432 (#12 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
10 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,604
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#949 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)
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11 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,633
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#949 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
12 / 30Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,656
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#538 most common name, -97.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 119,195 (#33 most common name)
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13 / 30Rhonda is a name of Welsh origin meaning "good lance".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,688
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#538 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,604 (#44 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
14 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,694
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#538 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)
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15 / 30Tina is a name of English origin meaning "river".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#538 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 126,400 (#31 most common name)
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16 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,996
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#538 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 154,893 (#23 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
17 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,149
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#538 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 181,938 (#14 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
18 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,168
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#909 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
19 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,255
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#909 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,844 (#11 most common name)
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20 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,257
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1170 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)
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21 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,339
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1170 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 151,790 (#25 most common name)
photoDiod // Shutterstock
22 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,406
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1170 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,496 (#19 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
23 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,434
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#230 (tie) most common name, -94.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
24 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,446
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1170 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 225,445 (#7 most common name)
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25 / 30Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#514 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,289 (#22 most common name)
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26 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,712
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#514 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
27 / 30Tammy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "palm tree".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,769
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#514 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,224 (#13 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
28 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,876
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 335 (#72 most common name, -90.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
30 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,474
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 335 (#72 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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