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Names that Peaked in 1956

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
  1. 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.
  2. Robin

    • Origin:

      Bird name; or English, diminutive of Robert

    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"

    • Description:

      Now that it's no longer fashionable for girls, Robin is rising for boys again. Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder are all male namesakes, after all. It reentered the US Top 1000 boys names in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.
  3. Mary

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"

    • Description:

      Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).
  4. Hal

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Harold or Henry, English, Scandinavian, German

    • Meaning:

      "army ruler or estate ruler"

    • Description:

      Could Hal be the Jack, Max, or Gus of the future? It just might happen in the new nickname environment, especially with Cal and Cy feeling cool, and with the interest in vintage, cowboy-esque choices, considering Hal ranked in the US Top 1000 in the first half of the 20th century.
  5. Laurel

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "laurel tree"

    • Description:

      Laurel takes Laura back to its meaning in nature, resulting in a gentle, botanical option. Even more directly than Laura, Laurel relates back to the laurel wreath signifying success and peace in ancient Greece and Rome.
  6. Joni

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Iconic folk singer Joni Mitchell lends this vintage nickname a cool, bohemian feel, while the streamlined spelling feels more contemporary and confident than the sweeter, cosier Joanie. While it may have disappeared from the US charts back in the 1980s, over in the nicknaming-loving UK, Joni has ranked in the Top 500 in recent years.
  7. Theresa

    • Origin:

      English form of the Spanish Teresa

    • Meaning:

      "to harvest"

    • Description:

      The popular appeal of the strong, intelligent Saint Teresa of Avila, combined with the selfless compassion of the more recent Mother Teresa, have fused to give this second-tier classic a somewhat noble, religious image. Although the origins of the name are uncertain, it has been prevalent particularly in forms Theresa, Teresa, and Therese throughout Europe for centuries.
  8. Kem

    • Description:

      Kem is a concise masculine name with diverse cultural origins. In Egyptian, it relates to 'kemet,' referring to the 'black land' or fertile soil of the Nile valley. In Vietnamese traditions, it may be used as a name element meaning 'needle' or 'modesty.' Some consider it a shortened form of Kenneth (meaning 'handsome' or 'born of fire' in Gaelic) or Kempton (an English place name). The name's brevity gives it a modern, streamlined appeal while its cross-cultural connections provide depth. Kem remains relatively uncommon in Western countries, offering distinctiveness without complexity. Its short, strong sound makes it straightforward to pronounce across languages, potentially appealing to parents seeking a simple yet distinctive name with multicultural resonance.

  9. Randy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Randall, Randolph

    • Description:

      Ever since Austin Powers enlightened Americans that "randy" meant "horny," it's been hard to take this name seriously, and Randy has declined in popularity since.
  10. Mimi

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Mary, Miriam, and others

    • Description:

      Sweet, nicknamey name belonging to the tragic heroines of both La Bohème and Rent. Mimi might feel too slight for many parents to use on the birth certificate, but as a short form, it's one of the cutest of the cute baby names.
  11. Denise

    • Origin:

      French, feminine variation of Denis

    • Meaning:

      "god of Nysa"

    • Description:

      Denise was a French favorite of the fifties and sixties but is less chic now. In 2020 it broke back into the Top 1000 after a five-year hiatus, catapulted into style by reality TV star Denisse Novoa — but it dropped out again the following year.
  12. Steven

    • Origin:

      English variation of Stephen

    • Meaning:

      "garland, crown"

    • Description:

      Steven, the phonetic and now predominant spelling of the classier Stephen, has finally dropped out of the Top 100 after seventy years. Steve has become one of the ultimate regular-guy names, right up there with Dave and Joe. and there have been innumerable pop-culture role models among its bearers--from Steven Spielberg to Steven Soderbergh to Steve Jobs.
  13. Faron

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "handsome servant"

    • Description:

      Faron, a soft and gentle name, has a diverse group of references. There was the medieval Saint Faron, Bishop of Meaux (who has given his name to a cheese); Faron Young, a colorful midcentury country singer known as The Hillbilly Heartthrob, and a character from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
  14. Jaye

    • Description:

      Jaye is a gender-neutral name that has been more commonly used for females in recent decades. It originated as a simplified variant of names like Jay, Jayne, or Jay, with the added 'e' giving it a more feminine appearance while maintaining its concise nature. The name has English origins and can be considered a modern, streamlined alternative to longer names like Janet, Janice, or Janelle. Jaye gained modest popularity in the mid-20th century and has maintained steady but uncommon usage since then. The name's brevity and contemporary feel make it appealing to parents seeking a name that is straightforward yet distinctive. Its simplicity allows it to pair well with various middle names and surnames.
  15. Lynn

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Linda or Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "lake"

    • Description:

      Lynn arrived in the 1940s, spinning off from the wildly popular Linda, to become a top midcentury middle name. Now, Lynn's in limbo.
  16. Desi

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Desiderio, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "desired one"

    • Description:

      Forever Lucy's.
  17. Lex

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexander

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      Cool short form of Alexander, fresher than Alex and less trendy than Xander... for now.
  18. Broderick

    • Origin:

      Norse

    • Meaning:

      "brother"

    • Description:

      Despite its brotherly meaning, sounds rather formal and cold.
  19. Doreen

    • Origin:

      Variation of Dora; also Anglicized variation of Irish Doireann

    • Meaning:

      "sullen"

    • Description:

      Much fresher Irish imports available for colleens now.
  20. Jayne

    • Origin:

      Variation of Jane

    • Description:

      Unplain (if dated) Jane.