Names that Peaked in 1968
Across 3 pages
of 3
The names
Michael
Hebrew
"who is like God?"
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. How has Michael racked up this phenomenal…
Dean
English
"church official"
Dean may sound to some like a retro surfer boy name, but it is once again climbing up the popularity chart in the USA. For decades it was associated with Dean (born Dino) Martin; more recent…
Patrick
Latin
"noble, patrician"
Patrick, long tied to a hyper-Irish image, is enjoying something of a renaissance as a stylish classic, as it has long been considered in England. Along with such choices as Charles and George,…
Carmen
Spanish variation of Carmel or Latin
"garden or song"
Carmen has long been associated with the sensuous, tragic heroine of Bizet's opera, based on a novel by Prosper Merimee; more recently it has called to mind two other bombshells: Carmen Miranda (born…
Michelle
French variation of Michael
"who is like God"
Michelle is the feminine form of Michel, the French variation of Michael. Michael was derived from the Hebrew name Mihka’el, meaning "who is like God." The alternate spelling Michele, with one "L,"…
Troy
Greek, French
"of Troyes"
Troy shot to popularity as a first name in tandem with that of 1960s heartthrob Troy (born Merle) Donahue; its image has now, thanks in part to the Brad Pitt-starring epic, Troy , receded back to…
Dexter
Latin
"dyer, right-handed"
The jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with an "x," has a lot of energy and dynamism. Over the years, it's been attached to a number of diverse real and fictional personalities—C. K. Dexter…
Josette
French,pet form of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
One of the group of French 'ette'-ending names that emigrated to this country in the last century, though never as popular as some others, such as Claudette and Paulette--it did have a little…
Tammie
Tammie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Tamara, which has Hebrew roots meaning "palm tree." It can also be a nickname for Tamsin or Thomasina, feminine variations of Thomas,…
Tammy
English, diminutive of Tamara
Made famous in fifties movies as a wholesome backwoods gal, Tammy was a Top 10 choice from the mid-60s to early-70s, but is now given to fewer than 100 babies per year in the US.
Nichelle
American, contemporary variation of Michelle
A modern twist on Michelle spotlighted by Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols.
Aretha
Greek
"virtuous"
There's still only one.
Darcy
Irish, French
"dark one; from Arcy; from the fortress"
A favorite in England and Wales, Darcy is a unisex option with delicacy, grace, and strength. Associated with classic literary and courtesy thanks to Jane Austen's hero, Mr. Darcy, and Bridget…
Michele
Feminine variation of Michael, Hebrew
"who is like God"
Onetime superstar name (Number 4 in the seventies) that's now in steep decline. Today's feminine is more likely to be some form of Michaela...or Makayla.
Kelly
Irish
"war"
A predominantly male name in the US until the late 1950s, the name continued to rise for both sexes for both sexes for a further decade, before starting to decline for boys. Despite dropping out of…
Darrell
English from Norman French
"dear one, beloved"
Beach boy name of the 1960s, Darrell is still a presence on the charts and may graduate into a stately surname name.
Darcy
English, French, Irish
"from Arcy; dark one"
The ultimate Jane Austen hero name, Darcy makes a handsome, surname style choice. Predominantly used for girls in England and Wales, across the pond in Australia, it is a stylish Top 100 name for…
Kelley
Kelley is primarily a feminine name in modern usage, though it originated as an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Ó Ceallaigh' meaning 'descendant of Ceallach' (bright-headed or troublesome). As…
Coretta
English, elaborated form of Cora
Famous as the name of the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tamatha
Tamatha is a feminine name that appears to be a variant of Tabitha or Samantha. With potential biblical connections through Tabitha (a woman known for her charitable works in the New Testament) and…