Most popular boy names in the 60s in Iowa

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 Iowa 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.

You may also like: Coldest Marches in Iowa since 1895

rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

1 / 30

#30. Craig

Craig is a name of Scottish origin meaning "rocky".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,165
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 386 (#12 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 84,711 (#44 most common name)

BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

2 / 30

#29. Patrick

Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 163 (#235 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 122,713 (#32 most common name)

Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

3 / 30

#28. Dennis

Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,256
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#571 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 94,983 (#39 most common name)

Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

4 / 30

#27. Donald

Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,260
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#741 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 172,620 (#25 most common name)

Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock

5 / 30

#26. Terry

Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,269
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#751 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 101,460 (#37 most common name)

Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

6 / 30

#25. Gregory

Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,323
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#730 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 187,490 (#23 most common name)

Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

7 / 30

#24. Ronald

Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,520
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#700 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)

My Good Images // Shutterstock

8 / 30

#23. Randy

Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,532
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#825 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,878 (#40 most common name)

Katrina Elena // Shutterstock

9 / 30

#22. Gary

Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,604
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#793 (tie) most common name, -99.4% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,016 (#26 most common name)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

10 / 30

#21. Joseph

Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 688 (#37 most common name, -73.6% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)

You may also like: Hottest Decembers in Iowa since 1895

Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

11 / 30

#20. Christopher

Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,692
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 381 (#110 most common name, -85.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 237,144 (#20 most common name)

Fotonium // Shutterstock

12 / 30

#19. Paul

Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,178
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 145 (#262 (tie) most common name, -95.4% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)

Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

13 / 30

#18. Douglas

Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,902
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#939 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 134,993 (#30 most common name)

Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

14 / 30

#17. William

William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,936
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,423 (#4 most common name, -63.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 421,411 (#7 most common name)

Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

15 / 30

#16. Richard

Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,247
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 129 (#296 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 373,894 (#8 most common name)

You may also like: Best public colleges in Iowa

MIA Studio // Shutterstock

16 / 30

#15. Daniel

Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,591
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 647 (#41 most common name, -85.9% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,014 (#19 most common name)

Mallmo // Shutterstock

17 / 30

#14. Thomas

Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,611
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 627 (#47 most common name, -86.4% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

18 / 30

#13. Todd

Todd is a name of English origin meaning "fox".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,779
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1036 most common name, -99.9% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,744 (#31 most common name)

Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

19 / 30

#12. Timothy

Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,844
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 165 (#232 most common name, -96.6% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

20 / 30

#11. Kevin

Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#215 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)

You may also like: Best colleges in Iowa

Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

21 / 30

#10. Brian

Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,889
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#395 (tie) most common name, -98.5% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 258,119 (#16 most common name)

Flashon // Shutterstock

22 / 30

#9. Steven

Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,059
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 121 (#311 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 30

#8. Jeffrey

Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,958
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#475 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)

morrowlight // Shutterstock

24 / 30

#7. Robert

Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,007
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 331 (#128 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)

2p2play // Shutterstock

25 / 30

#6. Scott

Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,069
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#516 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 266,823 (#15 most common name)

You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Iowa

Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

26 / 30

#5. James

James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,792
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,133 (#10 most common name, -85.5% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)

Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock

27 / 30

#4. John

John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,314
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 569 (#55 most common name, -93.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)

yifanjrb // Shutterstock

28 / 30

#3. Mark

Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,358
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#338 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 441,381 (#6 most common name)

Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

29 / 30

#2. David

David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".

Iowa
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 11,388
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 617 (#50 most common name, -94.6% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 733,939 (#2 most common name)