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 Tennessee 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".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,841 (#30 most common name, -41.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 283,046 (#12 most common name)
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2 / 30Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,162
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#605 (tie) most common name, -96.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 48,337 (#73 most common name)
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3 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,224
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 352 (#250 (tie) most common name, -89.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 242,503 (#18 most common name)
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4 / 30Tony is a name of Latin origin meaning "priceless one".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,383
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 138 (#496 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 70,533 (#51 most common name)
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5 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,386
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#549 most common name, -96.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 108,575 (#35 most common name)
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6 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,404
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 138 (#496 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,176 (#24 most common name)
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7 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,448
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#549 most common name, -96.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 172,620 (#25 most common name)
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8 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,520
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 531 (#164 most common name, -84.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 271,401 (#14 most common name)
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9 / 30Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,620
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#637 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 66,359 (#52 most common name)
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
10 / 30Jeffery is a name of German origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,671
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#563 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 79,525 (#46 most common name)
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11 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,856
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#631 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,016 (#26 most common name)
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12 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,003
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 446 (#196 (tie) most common name, -88.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 290,599 (#11 most common name)
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13 / 30Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,037
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#542 most common name, -97.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,532 (#41 most common name)
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14 / 30Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,066
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,709 (#39 most common name, -58.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 237,144 (#20 most common name)
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15 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,478
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,133 (#76 most common name, -74.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 203,145 (#22 most common name)
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16 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,554
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 194 (#397 most common name, -95.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 187,490 (#23 most common name)
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17 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,829
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,804 (#34 most common name, -62.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 327,059 (#9 most common name)
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18 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,838
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#544 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 101,460 (#37 most common name)
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19 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,301
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 478 (#177 most common name, -91.0% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 227,514 (#21 most common name)
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20 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 5,445
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 401 (#224 most common name, -92.6% 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".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 6,451
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 216 (#366 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 302,013 (#10 most common name)
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22 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,490
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 332 (#261 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 441,381 (#6 most common name)
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23 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,530
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,855 (#29 most common name, -75.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 249,388 (#17 most common name)
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24 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,642
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 656 (#140 most common name, -91.4% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 276,819 (#13 most common name)
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25 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,706 (#1 most common name, -55.9% 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".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,757
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,385 (#60 most common name, -87.1% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 650,769 (#5 most common name)
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27 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 11,098
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,902 (#7 most common name, -73.9% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 713,374 (#3 most common name)
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28 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,286
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,961 (#25 most common name, -85.2% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 733,939 (#2 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
29 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 14,254
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,169 (#20 most common name, -84.8% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 833,070 (#1 most common name)
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30 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 18,376
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,947 (#3 most common name, -78.5% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 684,721 (#4 most common name)
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