The Swinging ’60s, as the decade of the 1960s is commonly known, was a wild time worldwide. Societal taboos were normalized and the counterculture of peace, love, and psychedelic experiences was all the rage.
But, despite all the change this decade saw, some things remained the same – like babies being born! Many of our friends and parents were born during this era, and many of them were probably given some of the most popular names of the decade. Although these monikers saw their heyday years ago, we still love some of these adorable names for kids today!
Here are 27 of our favorite names that were popularized in the 1960s:
1. Mary
This Hebrew name may have been the #1 name in the ’60s, but it’s a moniker that’s been around for literal centuries (think all the biblical Mary’s – that should give you an idea of about how long). Although this name does have religious connotations, we love the sweet and strong feeling you get from this traditional name.
2. David
Again, a name as old as time, so it seems. Another Hebrew moniker that’s made famous appearances in the Bible (David and Goliath, of course) and in timeless Renaissance art (shout out to THE David, Michelangelo’s masterpiece), this name is one known around the world. Maybe that’s why the moniker literally means, “beloved”!
3. Lori
This name may have been popular in the 1960s, but it still has a trendy, modern feel to it today! Derived from the Latin name Laura (which means “Laurel”) this name can also be spelled “Lauri” or even “Laurie” depending on your preference.
4. Charles
Strong, traditional, and yet effortlessly retro, we love this name for a little boy OR a little girl! Yes, Charles is a unisex name, as it’s often used as a nickname for Charlotte. As if you needed another reason to love this adorable moniker.
5. Elizabeth
Does it get more elegant than this classic 1960s name? This Biblical name meaning “Consecrated to God” in Hebrew was the moniker of so many Hollywood darlings – who wouldn’t want to be named after the likes of the great Elizabeth Taylor?!
6. Daniel
One of my personal favorite names, this Hebrew moniker means, “God is my judge.” It might have a serious, religious background to it, but we love the fun vibe this name (and its many nicknames!) gives off.
7. Margaret
Speaking of nicknames, few monikers have as many aww-worthy nicknames as the 1960s favorite, Margaret. The full name is of Persian decent and means, “child of light” – that might explain why the name has such an airy, bright feel to it, as if anyone with this moniker is born to be full of wit and charm.8. Christopher
Quirky yet powerful, this Greek name meaning “Christ-bearer,” is almost as popular today as it was 50 years ago. We love the sound of the full name, but we’re also obsessed with the shortenings Chris or even Topher.
9. Catherine
Another name that exudes 1960s grace and glamour, Catherine sounds like the proud, fabulous name of a future movie star! The name actually derives from Greek and means “pure.”
10. Edward
Just because it’s not 1964, doesn’t mean that the name Edward still isn’t a popular one. (Edward Cullen, anyone? Hey, no shame in remembering the tween vampire heartthrob, it was a thing.) The name, which means “guardian of prosperity” in English, has seen a pretty big fall from grace in the last 10 years and it now sits at #242 for most popular boys’ names.
11. Carol
Maybe it’s because we can’t help but imagine comedic genius Carol Burnett or songstress Carole King (different spelling, but same difference!), but this name gives us a strong feeling of someone who is lighthearted, creative, and utterly charming. Even a lengthening of this name into something trendy like Carolyn or Caroline would be an adorable choice.
12. William
This name of Old-German origin means “strong-willed warrior” – and that has shown true through all the powerful leaders named William throughout history. Although the moniker reigned at #7 during the 1960s it’s not too far off 50 years later at #24.
13. Lisa
Anyone who’s ever seen an episode of The Simpsons will agree with me in saying that this name ALWAYS makes me think of strong, intelligent women, thanks to Lisa Simpson herself. The name is actually a Hebrew name meaning “consecrated to God” and has seen a major fallout since the 1960s when it was the #6 girls name.
14. James
It’s impossible to deny that this Hebrew name meaning “supplanter” isn’t as popular today as it was in the 1960s. Granted, this moniker falls at #10 today and was #3 back in its day. But still, to only fall seven places in five decades is a retty impressive feat for this strong name.
15. Connie
This might not be a popular name today, but we love the idea of naming a little girl Connie in 2017! She would certainly have a vintage, one-of-a-kind name in her class, that’s for sure. The Latin name is actually a nickname for the much more serious moniker, Constance, and means “to be knowledgeable; steadfast.”
16. Scott
Not only do we have uncles named Scott, we also have younger friends named Scott, too – it just goes to show that this popular moniker has not left the spotlight after half a century. The English name literally means “a Scotsman” or a Scottish man.
17. Kelly
This fun-loving name just made it into the Top 50 girls names in the 1960s, and it’s plunged to #818 this year. However, despite its recent loss of popularity, we love that this Teutonic name means “farm by the spring.” So beautiful!
18. Russell
We have to admit, this old-school name feels like a retro moniker that millennial parents are determined to bring back. We’re not complaining! We love the quirky, almost mischievous sound of this name, which actually translates to “red-haired” in French.
19. Valerie
Latin for “strong,” this stunning name perfectly walks the line between gorgeous elegance and intensely strong-willed. We’d be lying if we didn’t admit that this moniker is on our favorites list!
20. Henry
Granted, this name has been around for well over 5,000 years – just think about the EIGHT kings of England that had the moniker before famous men like Henry Winkler did – but it still has a fun yet intelligent feel to it that’s perfect for a modern day baby.