Names that Peaked in 1956
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About this list
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…
Mary
Hebrew or Egyptian
"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"
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…
Steven
English variation of Stephen
"garland, crown"
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…
Robin
Bird name; or English, diminutive of Robert
"bright fame"
Gentle but solid, as much of a word as it is a name, Robin is a rising star in the US, and a favorite in Belgium, France, Czechia and Switzerland. With memorable namesakes like Robin Hood, Robin…
Laurel
Latin
"laurel tree"
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…
Jeri
Jeri is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Geraldine or Jeraldine, though it has long since established itself as an independent given name. It ultimately derives from Germanic…
Karan
Karan as a feminine name has multiple cultural origins. In Hindi, it's primarily masculine, meaning 'helper' or 'one who acts,' but has been adapted as a feminine name in Western contexts. It may…
Leesa
Spelling variation of Lisa, short form of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Leesa is a feminine name that emerged as a variant spelling of Lisa, which itself derives from Elisabeth or Elizabeth, a Hebrew name meaning 'God is my oath' or 'consecrated to God.' This alternative…
Faron
English
"handsome servant"
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…
Debora
Debora is the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian form of Deborah, a name with ancient Hebrew origins meaning 'bee.' In the Old Testament, Debora (Deborah) was a respected prophetess and judge…
Denise
French, feminine variation of Denis
"god of Nysa"
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…
Micheal
Spelling variation of Michael
A spelling variation of Michael—or sometimes simply a mistake. Whatever the case, this version has always ranked in the US Top 1000, though always much lower than the traditional spelling.
Kathey
Kathey is a feminine name that represents an alternative spelling of the more common Kathy, which itself originated as a diminutive form of Katherine. Katherine, with its Greek origins meaning…
Jaye
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…
Lex
Diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
Cool short form of Alexander, fresher than Alex and less trendy than Xander... for now.
Roxane
Persian
"dawn"
Alternative (rarer) spelling of Roxanne.
Sheree
Sheree is a feminine name that emerged as a variant spelling of Sherry or Cherie, which ultimately derive from the French 'chérie,' meaning 'beloved' or 'darling.' This variation gained popularity in…
Hal
Diminutive of Harold or Henry, English, Scandinavian, German
"army ruler or estate ruler"
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…
Michal
Czech, Slavic, and Polish variation of Michael
"who is like God?"
Michal may be one of several Eastern European forms of Michael, though there is a biblical Michal who is female, the daughter of Saul and wife of David.
Mimi
Diminutive of Mary, Miriam, and others
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…
