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 New Mexico 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 / 30Johnny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 837
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#199 (tie) most common name, -87.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 49,688 (#69 most common name)
Minnikova Mariia // Shutterstock
2 / 30Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 846
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#199 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,532 (#41 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
3 / 30Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 861
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#215 most common name, -87.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 143,980 (#29 most common name)
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4 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 865
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#486 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
5 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 880
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#298 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 258,119 (#16 most common name)
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6 / 30Raymond is a name of German origin meaning "protector".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 892
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#255 (tie) most common name, -90.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 81,788 (#45 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
7 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 899
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#710 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 108,575 (#35 most common name)
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8 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 927
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 106 (#210 most common name, -88.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
9 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 959
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 153 (#140 (tie) most common name, -84.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
10 / 30Joe is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Jehovah increases".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 960
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#486 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 53,279 (#64 most common name)
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11 / 30Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,035
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#255 (tie) most common name, -91.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 122,713 (#32 most common name)
Fotonium // Shutterstock
12 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#255 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,016 (#26 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
13 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,091
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#255 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
14 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,157
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#272 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 227,514 (#21 most common name)
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
15 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,174
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 442 (#36 most common name, -62.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 237,144 (#20 most common name)
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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
16 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,195
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 274 (#76 most common name, -77.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)
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17 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,288
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 190 (#108 (tie) most common name, -85.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 249,388 (#17 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
18 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,384
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 631 (#9 most common name, -54.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,014 (#19 most common name)
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19 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,404
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 486 (#31 most common name, -65.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 203,145 (#22 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
20 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,488
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 102 (#218 (tie) most common name, -93.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)
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21 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,569
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 407 (#43 most common name, -74.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 421,411 (#7 most common name)
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22 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,656
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#231 (tie) most common name, -94.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
23 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,777
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 511 (#27 most common name, -71.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
24 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,085
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#279 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 441,381 (#6 most common name)
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25 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 129 (#162 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 373,894 (#8 most common name)
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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
26 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,076
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 590 (#15 most common name, -80.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,457
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 301 (#63 most common name, -91.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
28 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,665
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 273 (#77 most common name, -92.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 483 (#32 most common name, -88.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 733,939 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,246
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 630 (#10 most common name, -85.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 833,070 (#1 most common name)
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