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Names that Peaked in 1962

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
  1. Daphne

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "laurel tree, bay tree"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Daphne was the nymph daughter of Peneus, a river god. Peneus saved Daphne from Apollo’s romantic obsessions by transforming her into a laurel tree. It is from this myth that the plant genus daphne, which contains the laurel species, gets its name.
  2. Michael

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "who is like God?"

    • Description:

      Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names, it's still widely used.
  3. Mark

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "warlike"

    • Description:

      Mark has the rare appeal of a strong, sleek name with a minimalist modern feel and ancient roots. The name Mark is taken from the Roman god of war Mars, also the namesake of the planet.
  4. Robin

    • Origin:

      Bird name, or English, diminutive of Robert

    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"

    • Description:

      After a 60 year slide down the popularity ladder, Robin made a turnaround in 2020 and began climbing back into favor for baby girls. One reason may be its new status as one of the most evenly-divided gender neutral names.
  5. Gregory

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "vigilant, a watchman"

    • Description:

      The Greek name of sixteen popes and fifteen saints, the gregarious Gregory became big in the United States with the emergence of admirable actor Gregory Peck (born Eldred) in the late 1940s. From 1950 to 1973, it was in the Top 30, with nickname Greg becoming a Cool Dude name.
  6. Barry

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "spear"

    • Description:

      This Anglicized form of Bearach or short form of Finbarr was in the Top 200 in the USA for 50 years until the early 80s when it rapidly fell out of favor. Barry has not yet found popularity in the modern era - but that may well change as people rediscover their love of classic figures like musician Barry White, baseballer Barry Bonds or even Barack Obama, whose nickname as a young man was Barry.
  7. Lisa

    • Origin:

      English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian

    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"

    • Description:

      Elvis naming his daughter Lisa Marie and Nat King Cole's hit song "Mona Lisa" conspired to catapult one of Elizabeth's many offshoots to a high of #4 in 1970.
  8. Gigi

    • Origin:

      French diminutive

    • Description:

      Joining the likes of Coco and Fifi, Gigi has a style but some may feel it lacks substance. Model and TV personality Gigi Hadid (born Jelena) has likely drawn attention to this name, while designer Cynthia Rowley may have inspired parents to use it as a given name by choosing it for her daughter.
  9. Kent

    • Origin:

      English surname and place-name

    • Meaning:

      "edge"

    • Description:

      Kent is a no-nonsense, brief, brisk one-syllable name, almost as curt as Kurt.
  10. Teresa

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "to harvest"

    • Description:

      How do you spell Teresa? Teresa, the simpler phonetic form of this name, was the most popular variation for its early life, when it was used exclusively in Spain and Portugal. Other spellings of Teresa include Theresa, the usual English form, and the French Therese.
  11. Greg

    • Description:

      Greg is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive of Gregory, which comes from the Greek name Gregorios, meaning 'watchful' or 'alert.' While Gregory has been used since early Christian times, Greg gained popularity as a standalone name in the mid-20th century. It reached its peak usage in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Greg has a friendly, approachable quality with a classic yet casual feel. The name's brevity and straightforward pronunciation have contributed to its enduring appeal across English-speaking countries. Though less commonly given to newborns today than in previous decades, Greg maintains a steady presence and is recognized as both a complete name and a nickname.

  12. Glenn

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "valley"

    • Description:

      Glenn appealed to a lot of post-World War II parents for its cool, leafy image, also calling up the Big Band sounds of Glenn Miller and the calm, composed image of actor Glenn Ford, whose name at birth was the Welsh Gwyllyn. It could possible be in line for a comeback in the more nature-evoking spelling of Glen, as used by Glen Campbell, or possibly even the Welsh Glyn.
  13. Vince

    • Origin:

      Short form of Vincent, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "conquering"

    • Description:

      Vince is not a short form that often stands alone on the birth certificate, the way Jack or even Joe does, but it has certain credibility as the name always used for football great Vince Lombardi. And as a diminutive for Vincent, it's a far sight better than Vinnie or Vinny or even Vin.
  14. Jeff

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Jeffrey, Jefferson

    • Meaning:

      "pledge of peace"

    • Description:

      The ultimate dad name.
  15. Boris

    • Origin:

      Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "to fight"

    • Description:

      Boris is one of the old Russian names being revived by chic Europeans; it hasn't quite made a comeback yet in the U.S., but it does have potential.
  16. Sherry

    • Origin:

      Phonetic variation of French Cheri; also a Spanish fortified wine

    • Description:

      Peppy cheerleader name of the 1960s and 70s that's sure to evoke the Four Seasons song of that name.
  17. Geoff

    • Description:

      Geoff is a shortened form of Geoffrey, a masculine name of Germanic origin meaning 'peace pledge' or 'divine peace.' This shorter variant gained popularity particularly in British-influenced regions during the mid-20th century. While maintaining the same pronunciation as 'Jeff,' the distinctive spelling gives it a more traditional English appearance, reflecting its medieval origins. Geoffrey was introduced to England by the Normans and was borne by several medieval nobles. The shortened form Geoff offers a classic yet approachable quality, balancing formality with familiarity. Though less common now than in previous decades, Geoff continues to be used, appreciated for its straightforward sound and rich historical associations.
  18. Tana

    • Origin:

      English, Frisian, Spanish, Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "thought or sweetheart"

    • Description:

      An Ethiopian place-name and multicultural diminutive for many names, including the Slavic Tatiana and the Spanish Cayetana. Tana is also a rare Frisian name, meaning "thought", as well as a masculine name meaning "sweetheart" in the Turkic Karachay-Balkar language.
  19. Doug

    • Description:

      Doug is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Douglas, a Scottish surname meaning 'dark water' or 'dark stream,' derived from the Gaelic elements 'dubh' (dark) and 'glas' (water). While Douglas has been used as a given name since the late Middle Ages, Doug emerged as a standalone name in the mid-20th century. The name peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, conveying a friendly, approachable quality. Doug has a straightforward, unpretentious character that embodies mid-century American values. Though its usage has declined significantly since its peak, the name retains a certain classic appeal. Doug conveys a sense of reliability and straightforwardness, with many perceiving it as friendly and trustworthy.

  20. Marty

    • Origin:

      Short form of Martin, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "warlike"

    • Description:

      Marty is one of those Old Man nicknames that's just starting to sound cute again.