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 South Dakota 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 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 538
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 206 (#46 (tie) most common name, -61.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)
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2 / 30Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 543
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 206 (#46 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,878 (#40 most common name)
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock
3 / 30Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 546
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#290 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 122,713 (#32 most common name)
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4 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 552
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 217 (#41 (tie) most common name, -60.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 249,388 (#17 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
5 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 558
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 217 (#41 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 172,620 (#25 most common name)
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6 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#437 most common name, -98.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)
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7 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 580
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 187,490 (#23 most common name)
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock
8 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 591
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,016 (#26 most common name)
morrowlight // Shutterstock
9 / 30Bradley is a name of English origin meaning "woodland clearing".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 626
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#331 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 48,692 (#71 most common name)
Falcona // Shutterstock
10 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 629
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#331 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 101,460 (#37 most common name)
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11 / 30Troy is a name of Irish origin meaning "foot soldier".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 688
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 61,383 (#56 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 901
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 403 (#6 most common name, -55.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 421,411 (#7 most common name)
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13 / 30Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 908
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 403 (#6 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 134,993 (#30 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
14 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 941
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#221 (tie) most common name, -94.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
15 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,033
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#33 most common name, -77.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,014 (#19 most common name)
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Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
16 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,048
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#36 most common name, -78.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
17 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,127
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#225 (tie) most common name, -95.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 373,894 (#8 most common name)
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18 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,187
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#229 (tie) most common name, -96.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)
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19 / 30Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,288
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#229 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 258,119 (#16 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,322
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#229 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)
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21 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,425
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#290 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
22 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,425
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#268 (tie) most common name, -97.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
23 / 30Todd is a name of English origin meaning "fox".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,653
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#268 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,744 (#31 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
24 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,671
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#134 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
25 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 162 (#69 most common name, -90.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)
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26 / 30Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,765
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 162 (#69 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 266,823 (#15 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
27 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,911
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 341 (#13 most common name, -82.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
28 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,962
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 341 (#13 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 441,381 (#6 most common name)
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29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,452
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 165 (#66 (tie) most common name, -93.3% 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?".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,582
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 251 (#29 most common name, -90.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 833,070 (#1 most common name)
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