The Decade That Changed Baby Names: See the 1960s Names Ready for a Comeback

The 1960s were a decade rich with cultural shifts and social change. Many young people were beginning to veer from the social norms of the 1950s toward a lifestyle that valued individualism and freedom. Music artists like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix were on the rise. And—perhaps most importantly—The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, marking the 1960s as a period of counterculture and revolution. It also marked a shift in baby naming trends. In the 1960s, parents began to get more creative and diversify their baby name choices (see: Mary dropping from her reign as the most popular girl name since the U.S. Social Security Administration started keeping track in 1880).

In the year 2026, events of the 1960s may seem like a thing of the distant past. Yet, as we welcome a new generation to the world, parents are gravitating more and more toward vintage baby names. It’s actually one of the biggest naming trends of 2026! If you’re an expectant parent in search of a name for your little one, look no further than the 1960s. These names range from super popular to nearly extinct, so wherever your naming tastes lie, we have a pick for you.

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• Name Nostalgia: The Top Baby Names That Defined Each Decade
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Popular 1960s baby names making a comeback

1960s girl names that are popular again

• Audrey
• Charlotte
• Elizabeth
• Evelyn
• Julia
• Margaret
• Natalie
• Rose
• Sarah

1960s boy names that parents love today

• Anthony
• Charles
• David
• Jack
• James
• John
• Michael
• Robert
• Thomas
• William

1960s girl names to watch

After looking at 2026 baby naming trends and the most popular baby girl names today, these are the 1960s baby names to watch in the coming years. You may see some of these vintage, nature-inspired, long names, or names that end in “a,” climbing the baby name ranks very soon.

Annette

Long girl names are having a moment, plus French-inspired names are timeless favorites among parents. So this pretty 1960s girl’s name, meaning “grace,” could be poised for a resurgence.

April

April was a popular pick throughout the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, but has declined in use since. However, the name’s nature-inspired roots and spring aesthetic make it a classic and simple pick for a little one in 2026.

Carolyn

While its more popular variant, Caroline, is more common these days, Carolyn was a buzzy choice for little girls throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. Now, it’s considered an adorable vintage name for a new little girl.

Diana

Diana has come in and out of fashion over time, peaking in the 1940s-1960s, then seeing another boost after the Royal wedding in 1981. But this name’s Royal lineage isn’t the only thing that sets it apart—its translation of “divine” and “heavenly” speaks for itself.

Elaine

Elaine was a staple baby boomer name, remaining in the top 200 baby names throughout the 1960s. Its vintage roots and charming translation to “shining light” make it an ideal pick for a little one in 2026. Plus, for any readers out there, Elaine is a key character in the ACOTAR series.

Gina

Gina’s popularity peaked in the 1960s and ‘70s, before seeing a steady falloff in the 21st century. However, its Latin roots and translation to “queen”—a fitting title for a new little girl—make it a charming pick destined to stand out. Plus, it’s a unique name ending in “a,” compared to the more popular Gianna, Mia, and Olivia.

Kimberly

Kimberly climbed the ranks in the 1960s for baby girls, eventually peaking in popularity in the 1970s. Nowadays, it’s not quite as common, but its strong nature-inspired meaning, “royal forest,” and Old English roots make it a wonderful choice for a new baby.

Nancy

Nancy was a staple cool girl name from the 1930s to the 1970s, but is now considered a vintage choice and rarely makes the top 1000 baby girl names. With “grandma names” coming back, Nancy could be too. It has Hebrew roots and means “grace.”

Penny

Despite being most popular in the 1960s and ‘70s, Penny is seeing a delightful resurgence as a vintage nickname for little girls, given the popular name, Penelope. Plus, the double letters give the name a sweet look and sound.

Robin

Robin is unique in that it was a popular choice for boys and girls in the 1950s and ‘60s. Now, it is far less common, but with the steady climb of gender-neutral names, Robin is surely one to keep an eye on.

Wendy

While Wendy Moira Angela Darling of Peter Pan may be the most famous namesake of this moniker, meaning “friend.” But plenty of Wendys also appear in 1960’s pop culture—from the famous fast-food restaurant chain that opened in 1969 to the love interest of Squints Palledorous in the nostalgic summer movie The Sandlot, set in 1962.

More 1960s girl names following 2026 trends

• Andrea
• Alice
• Betty
• Bonnie
• Catherine
• Charlene
• Dawn
• Dorothy
• Eileen
• Frances
• Gwendolyn
• Holly
• Jacqueline
• Jamie
• Jane
• Loretta
• Lorraine
• Maria
• Mary
• Melody
• Tamara
• Valerie

1960s boy names ready for a comeback

Despite their vintage fame, these trendy baby boy names may just start to climb the SSA baby name ranks in the coming decades. The following 2026 naming trends, like short names, surnames, nickname first names, and old-fashioned boy names with grandpa vibes, may bring these 1960s names back.

Andre

With strong French roots, Andre made its way into the top baby boy names in the United States in the 1930s, peaking from the 1950s to the 1970s. With meanings that include “brave” and “warrior,” Andre is a charming pick for a little boy.

Billy

Despite having a vintage feel to it, there may be no other name on this list that screams “cool boy” like this one. The name picked up traction in the 1960s and remained a popular pick throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Brett

For a short baby boy name, Brett is a perfect choice. The French name began to rise in the 1950s and peaked in the 1970s. Today, it’s an adorable (and gender neutral) pick for a new baby.

Franklin

Franklin began to rise as a choice for baby boys in the 1930s and ‘40s, likely due to the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It remained a popular pick for the decades to follow, and today makes a unique vintage name for a new baby boy.

Jay

Jay is a strong, gender-neutral, and one-syllable pick, translating—unsurprisingly—to “blue-crested bird.” It landed itself in the top 100 baby boy names between 1950 and 1970.

Jeffrey

While a top 100 name in the 1950s and ‘60s, Jeffery has seen a steady decline in the 21st century. Yet, its German and English roots and translation to “divine peace” make it a charming vintage pick for a baby boy.

Scott

During the 1960s and 1970s, Scott often ranked in the top 50 baby names for boys in the United States. Though its use is now far less common, Scott is a short, strong, double-letter name perfect to pair with a long last name.

Timothy

For a baby raised in faith, Timothy is the perfect choice. It translates directly to “honoring God” and peaked in popularity in the 1960s. It is most common among older generations, but with lots of charm and possible nicknames, it is one to keep an eye on in 2026.

Tony

Though commonly a diminutive of Anthony or Antonio, Tony can stand on its own and was ranked in the top 200 baby boy names in the 1960s. Today, its short nature and Latin roots make it a strong choice for a new baby boy.

Troy

Despite being most popular in the 1960s and ‘70s, this baby boy name is far from extinct. In fact, you may recognize it from the ever-famous Troy Bolton, the star of High School Musical. With a cultural influence that vast, this name isn’t going anywhere.

More 1960s boy names following 2026 trends

• Allen
• Arthur
• Brent
• Bobby
• Dean
• Derrick
• Eddie
• Eugene
• Johnny
• Lawrence
• Leon
• Leroy
• Martin
• Maurice
• Lonnie
• Randall
• Ricky/Rickey
• Ronnie
• Shane
• Warren

1960s baby names going extinct

These baby names were popular in the 1920s, but are not in the top 1000 baby names in the United States today. For parents looking for unique baby names for their little ones, this may be the list for you. Just because a name has gone out of fashion or is considered “rare” doesn’t mean it couldn’t be a charming choice for a new baby boy or girl.

1960s baby girl names that are not popular today

While these baby girl names may be on the brink of extinction, don’t count them out just yet. Many of these picks possess that charming, vintage feel parents are after in 2026, while still sticking out in a crowd. Beverly is lyrical and sweet, and could easily be shortened to “Bev.” Wanda is unique simply in its first letter, and has a major cultural influence with the popular series Wanda Vision. Most importantly, you won’t find any of these picks in the SSA’s top 1000 baby girl names, so if you’re an expectant parent looking for a unique name, keep reading:

• Ann
• Becky
• Belinda
• Beverly
• Cindy
• Darlene
• Debbie
• Donna
• Felicia
• Glenda
• Janet
• Judy
• Maureen
• Melinda
• Pam
• Patricia
• Peggy
• Phyllis
• Renee
• Sandy
• Sheila
• Sherry
• Sue
• Terri
• Tonya
• Wanda
• Yolanda
• Yvonne

1960s baby boy names that are rarely used today

Many of these extinct names could easily be unique and memorable picks for a new baby boy, although some popular 1960s names may not be posed for a comeback. Vernon, may be forever marked as the name of Harry Potter’s evil uncle. But Stuart and Tyrone, for example, could be adorable choices for parents in search of something vintage and rare, and Glenn is even gender-neutral!

• Barry
• Bob
• Chad
• Clarence
• Clifford
• Dale
• Duane
• Earl
• Ernest
• Fred
• Gene
• Gilbert
• Glenn
• Greg
• Guy
• Herbert
• Jeff
• Jerome
• Kent
• Kurt
• Perry
• Ralph
• Steve
• Stuart
• Tyrone
• Vernon

The most popular 1960s baby names

Still in need of some vintage baby naming inspiration? Check out the top 200 1960s baby names for boys and girls, according to SSA data.

FAQs

What were popular baby girl names in the 1960s?

Lisa was the top girl name in the 1960s, with Mary, Susan, Karen, and Kimberly close behind. Other charming and timeless names like Elizabeth and Laura also made the list!

What were popular baby boy names in the 1960s?

Unsurprisingly, the three most popular baby boy names in the 1960s were Michael, David, and John. Other notable names that hit peak popularity in the 1960s include Jeffrey, Scott, and Mark.

What 1960s baby names are making a comeback?

In accordance with 2026 baby naming trends, vintage names, classic names, gender-neutral names, and nickname-proof names are likely to see a resurgence in popularity. For 1960s baby names, this could include girl names like Penny and Nancy, or boy names like Billy and Brett.

Are vintage names trending?

Yes! Vintage names are one of the biggest baby naming trends we’ve seen in recent years. As a result, parents are likely to see 1960s baby names like Alice, Arthur, Betty, and others climb the SSA baby name ranks in the coming years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Smith, Editorial Intern

As editorial intern, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content, and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented by contributing to The Everymom.

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