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 Kentucky 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 / 30Jeffery is a name of German origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,678
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#560 (tie) most common name, -97.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 79,525 (#46 most common name)
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock
2 / 30Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,710
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#487 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,532 (#41 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
3 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,724
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 222 (#237 (tie) most common name, -91.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 152,231 (#27 most common name)
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4 / 30Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,006
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#552 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 66,359 (#52 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
5 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,014
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 185 (#275 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 258,119 (#16 most common name)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,032
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#435 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)
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7 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,048
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#582 (tie) most common name, -98.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 108,575 (#35 most common name)
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8 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#521 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 101,460 (#37 most common name)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
9 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,328
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 929 (#51 most common name, -72.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 237,144 (#20 most common name)
noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock
10 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,675
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 636 (#82 most common name, -82.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 203,145 (#22 most common name)
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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
11 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,690
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 85 (#457 most common name, -97.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 172,620 (#25 most common name)
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
12 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,849
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#240 most common name, -94.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
13 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,906
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#566 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,016 (#26 most common name)
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock
14 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 311 (#178 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 227,514 (#21 most common name)
My Good Images // Shutterstock
15 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,147
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 305 (#181 most common name, -92.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)
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16 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,180
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 110 (#401 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 187,490 (#23 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
17 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,240
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 271 (#197 (tie) most common name, -93.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
18 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,393
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,223 (#27 most common name, -72.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)
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19 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,410
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 945 (#49 most common name, -78.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)
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20 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,000
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 254 (#213 most common name, -94.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 373,894 (#8 most common name)
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21 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,949
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 145 (#328 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
22 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,597
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#37 most common name, -83.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 249,388 (#17 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
23 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,067
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 410 (#133 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock
24 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,554
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 192 (#263 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 441,381 (#6 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
25 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,636
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,624 (#2 most common name, -72.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 421,411 (#7 most common name)
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26 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,930
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 733 (#67 most common name, -92.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
27 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,438
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,644 (#13 most common name, -84.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
28 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,075
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,278 (#26 most common name, -89.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 833,070 (#1 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,517
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,044 (#39 (tie) most common name, -91.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 733,939 (#2 most common name)
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
30 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 15,661
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,277 (#5 most common name, -85.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)
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