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 North Carolina 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 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,235
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2502 (tie) most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 101,125 (#40 most common name)
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2 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,299
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 248 (#430 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 174,181 (#16 most common name)
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3 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,315
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 248 (#430 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
4 / 30Rhonda is a name of Welsh origin meaning "good lance".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,333
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 248 (#430 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,604 (#44 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 30Tina is a name of English origin meaning "river".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,380
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#2270 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 126,400 (#31 most common name)
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6 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,465
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 241 (#442 (tie) most common name, -93.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,414 (#20 most common name)
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7 / 30Amy is a name of French origin meaning "beloved".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,487
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 424 (#246 (tie) most common name, -87.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 116,771 (#35 most common name)
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8 / 30Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,578
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 424 (#246 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 47,691 (#81 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
9 / 30Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,653
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#453 most common name, -93.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 119,195 (#33 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
10 / 30Sherry is a name of French origin meaning "dear".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#453 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 77,526 (#55 most common name)
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11 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,020
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#1574 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
12 / 30Robin is a name of German origin meaning "fame-bright".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,459
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#1000 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 118,326 (#34 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
13 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,584
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,069 (#10 most common name, -33.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 168,915 (#17 most common name)
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14 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,723
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#1131 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,496 (#19 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,341
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 96 (#882 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,432 (#12 most common name)
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16 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,572
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#1032 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)
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17 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,633
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 92 (#905 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 225,445 (#7 most common name)
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18 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,249
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#1210 (tie) most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,844 (#11 most common name)
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19 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,314
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#1161 (tie) most common name, -99.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)
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20 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,753
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#1690 most common name, -99.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 181,938 (#14 most common name)
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21 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,804
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 64 (#1151 (tie) most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 154,893 (#23 most common name)
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22 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,877
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 129 (#708 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)
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23 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,935
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 102 (#851 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)
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24 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,175
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 478 (#211 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)
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25 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,232
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#898 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 151,790 (#25 most common name)
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26 / 30Tammy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "palm tree".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,346
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#898 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,224 (#13 most common name)
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27 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,356
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1741 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
28 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,132
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,034 (#86 most common name, -88.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)
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29 / 30Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,427
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 330 (#329 (tie) most common name, -96.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,289 (#22 most common name)
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30 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,392
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#1121 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 496,983 (#1 most common name)
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