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 New Jersey 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 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,391
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1875 (tie) most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 112,332 (#38 most common name)
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2 / 30Theresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "late summer".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,446
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#989 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 97,115 (#42 most common name)
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3 / 30Maria is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "sea of bitterness".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,464
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 749 (#99 (tie) most common name, -83.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 88,819 (#49 most common name)
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4 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,738
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 749 (#99 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 135,646 (#28 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
5 / 30Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,798
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1744 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 176,561 (#15 most common name)
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6 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1597 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)
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7 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,044
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1072 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,844 (#11 most common name)
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8 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,408
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#924 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)
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9 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,440
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#356 (tie) most common name, -95.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,414 (#20 most common name)
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10 / 30Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,572
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 435 (#184 (tie) most common name, -92.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 208,296 (#9 most common name)
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11 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,920
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 435 (#184 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,452 (#36 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
12 / 30Michele is a name of Italian origin meaning "Who is like God?".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,922
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 435 (#184 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 86,992 (#50 most common name)
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13 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,987
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#1288 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,823 (#29 most common name)
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14 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,080
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 482 (#156 most common name, -92.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)
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15 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,152
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#784 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 154,893 (#23 most common name)
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16 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,325
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,554 (#38 most common name, -75.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 168,915 (#17 most common name)
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17 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,342
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#320 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 174,181 (#16 most common name)
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18 / 30Dawn is a name of English origin meaning "daybreak".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,349
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#320 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,292 (#37 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
19 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,525
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#585 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,432 (#12 most common name)
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20 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,921
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 (tie) most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 139,339 (#27 most common name)
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21 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,985
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#1264 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
22 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,283
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#1137 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 142,723 (#26 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
23 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,692
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#761 most common name, -98.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 120,950 (#32 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
24 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,690
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 225,445 (#7 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
25 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,653
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1063 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)
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26 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,787
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#266 most common name, -97.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)
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27 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,909
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1957 (tie) most common name, -99.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
28 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 11,406
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 135 (#552 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
29 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,410
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 62 (#976 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)
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30 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 17,577
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#1082 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 496,983 (#1 most common name)
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