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 West Virginia 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 / 30Rhonda is a name of Welsh origin meaning "good lance".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,206
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#811 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 93,604 (#44 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
2 / 30Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,247
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#811 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 65,222 (#62 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
3 / 30Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,264
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#811 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,414 (#20 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
4 / 30Kelly is a name of Irish origin meaning "bright-headed".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#811 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,052 (#30 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
5 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,330
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#811 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 154,893 (#23 most common name)
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Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
6 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,332
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, -70.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 168,915 (#17 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
7 / 30Sherry is a name of French origin meaning "dear".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,356
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 77,526 (#55 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
8 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,599
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,639
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 101,125 (#40 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
10 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,657
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,432 (#12 most common name)
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11 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,750
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
12 / 30Robin is a name of German origin meaning "fame-bright".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,752
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 118,326 (#34 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
13 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,775
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 225,445 (#7 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,788
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,844 (#11 most common name)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
15 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,813
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, -97.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 99,462 (#41 most common name)
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Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
16 / 30Tina is a name of English origin meaning "river".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,841
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 126,400 (#31 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
17 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,844
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
18 / 30Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 1,976
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,289 (#22 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
19 / 30Melissa is a name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 119,195 (#33 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
20 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,024
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)
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21 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
22 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
23 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,188
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,496 (#19 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
24 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,229
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 181,938 (#14 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
25 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,447
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)
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26 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 2,560
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 151,790 (#25 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
27 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#195 (tie) most common name, -97.6% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
28 / 30Tammy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "palm tree".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,584
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#195 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,224 (#13 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
29 / 30Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 3,820
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#515 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
30 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 4,912
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#515 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)
National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 496,983 (#1 most common name)
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