Names that Peaked in 1962

Sherry

Phonetic variation of French Cheri; also a Spanish fortified wine

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

Suzy

Diminutive of Susan and Suzanne, English, French

"lily"

An energetic, charmingly retro nickname, Suzy and all her sisters are off their fashion peak but will rise again around the middle of this century. The Z forms, Suzy and Suzie, are usually short for…

Marybeth

English, combination of Mary and Beth

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + oath"

Marybeth, something written like this as one word and sometimes as Mary Beth, is one of those compound versions of Mary popular in the midcentury US. Parents were trying to move away from plain old…

Rene

Variation of Renee

"reborn"

This name is hanging on as Renee, thanks to Ms. Zellweger, and in newer forms Renae and Renny.

Gwyn

Welsh

"white, blessed"

A male name in Wales, Gwyn has been mostly feminine in the US thanks to its resemblance to the more familiar Gwen. It derives from the same Celtic root as the popular Finn family of names.

Lorrie

Lorrie is a diminutive form of names like Laura, Lorraine, or Lorena. Originating from Latin roots, it carries the meaning of 'laurel' or 'victory,' symbolizing honor and achievement. The name gained…

Marnita

Marnita is a feminine name that likely originated as a diminutive form of Marina or possibly as a variant of Marna, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'rejoice.' The suffix '-ita' suggests Spanish or…

Sherrie

Variation of Sherry, French

"beloved"

Sherrie is a feminine name that is a spelling variation of the once-popular Sherry, a phonetic form of the French Cheri meaning dear or beloved. Sherry ranked in the US Top 100 from the late 1940s…

Tana

English, Frisian, Spanish, Slavic

"thought or sweetheart"

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…

Deedee

English diminutive of any girl name that starts with D

In its mid-20th century heyday, Deedee — or Didi or Dede — was not infrequently used as a name in its own right. It's a cute, or maybe cutesy, short form of names like Deanne.

Dee

English diminutive of any girl name that starts with D

Dee is a slight midcentury nickname that might be short for Deanna or Denise, but might be too slight for today's strong, independent female.

Deann

Deann is a feminine name that emerged as a variant of Diana, which derives from the Indo-European root meaning 'divine' or 'heavenly.' It gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th…

Lesa

Lesa is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant of Lisa, which derives from the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath.' Alternatively, it could be related to the Greek…