Decade dossier

1960s baby names

The names that defined the 1960s: Michael and Lisa led the decade, but the full roster tells a richer story.

What defined 1960s baby names

The 1960s were defined by names that now read as cultural artifacts. Michael and Lisa dominated the decade — names that crossed class lines and regional divides. Some have become vintage revival candidates; others remain frozen in time. Browse the full rankings below to see which names defined the 1960s classroom.

Girls

#1Lisa496,987
#2Mary355,240
#3Susan287,666
#4Karen286,053
#5Kimberly259,072
#6Patricia231,178
#7Linda225,454
#8Donna213,468
#9Michelle208,293
#10Cynthia196,597
#11Sandra183,846
#12Deborah183,439
#13Tammy182,231
#14Pamela181,939
#15Lori176,560
#16Laura174,185
#17Elizabeth168,920
#18Julie166,150
#19Brenda164,502
#20Jennifer164,413
#21Barbara159,773
#22Angela159,294
#23Sharon154,905
#24Debra153,771
#25Teresa151,793

Boys

#1Michael833,092
#2David733,953
#3John713,394
#4James684,722
#5Robert650,786
#6Mark441,390
#7William421,433
#8Richard373,907
#9Thomas327,055
#10Jeffrey302,029
#11Steven290,607
#12Joseph283,048
#13Timothy276,837
#14Kevin271,412
#15Scott266,828
#16Brian258,129
#17Charles249,398
#18Paul242,503
#19Daniel242,020
#20Christopher237,144
#21Kenneth227,531
#22Anthony203,159
#23Gregory187,495
#24Ronald182,190
#25Donald172,628

Explore more decades

Compare naming trends across all decades, from the 1880s to the 2020s.