Most popular girl names in the 60s in Illinois

Written by:
January 26, 2026
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Most popular girl names in the 60s in Illinois

Every new parent faces the difficult decision of choosing the perfect name for a newborn. First names rarely get changed after being assigned and carry with them a wide range of meanings and associations. This creates a lot of pressure on expectant parents to pick the perfect moniker for their little ones.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many parents end up choosing the same names over and over.  that we pick specific names implying desired characteristics about our children, selecting names for boys and girls intended to shape them. Male monikers are commonly inspired by political, cultural, and personal influences that suggest good, masculine, and well-rounded people.

The 1960s are commonly associated with tie-dye-clad hippies, psychedelic experimentation, and rock 'n' roll icons like the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. But underneath the flower power, free love exterior, the '60s were a period of radical social and political change鈥攏ot only in the United States but around the world. The decade was one characterized by a host of juxtapositions; anger and fear over injustice and uneasy political conditions lived alongside notions of musical awakening and pacifist harmony.

 compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the '60s in Illinois using data from the . Names are ranked by number of babies born from 1960 to 1969. The names in this list represent the distinct intersection of Baby Boomer and Gen X and a reflection of some of the most well-known celebrities, musicians, and trends of the time. Keep reading to see if your name was among the most popular in the '60s in your home state.

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#30. Cheryl

Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,751
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 112 (#596 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 135,646 (#28 most common name)

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#29. Diane

Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 7,858
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#2098 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,452 (#36 most common name)

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#28. Denise

Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1126 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 128,823 (#29 most common name)

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#27. Tammy

Tammy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "palm tree".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,343
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1126 most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 182,224 (#13 most common name)

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#26. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,532
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#1475 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 154,893 (#23 most common name)

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#25. Angela

Angela is a name of Latin origin meaning "messenger of God".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,582
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 451 (#255 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,289 (#22 most common name)

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#24. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,709
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#949 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 120,950 (#32 most common name)

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#23. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,932
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#1082 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 159,774 (#21 most common name)

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#22. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 8,976
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#1210 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 142,723 (#26 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#21. Dawn

Dawn is a name of English origin meaning "daybreak".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1803 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 114,292 (#37 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#20. Debra

Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,337
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1803 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 153,771 (#24 most common name)

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#19. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,439
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,735 (#15 most common name, -71.0% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 168,915 (#17 most common name)

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#18. Christine

Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#1180 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 139,339 (#27 most common name)

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#17. Jennifer

Jennifer is a name of English origin meaning "white shadow, white wave".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,569
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 272 (#417 most common name, -97.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 164,414 (#20 most common name)

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#16. Lori

Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,963
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#2259 most common name, -99.9% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 176,561 (#15 most common name)

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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#15. Pamela

Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 9,966
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#2510 (tie) most common name, -99.9% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 181,938 (#14 most common name)

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#14. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,065
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#983 most common name, -99.1% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,844 (#11 most common name)

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#13. Deborah

Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,142
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#1402 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 183,432 (#12 most common name)

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#12. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 10,564
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1874 (tie) most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 213,467 (#8 most common name)

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#11. Cynthia

Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 11,131
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 156 (#670 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 196,596 (#10 most common name)

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#10. Michelle

Michelle is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,463
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 488 (#231 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 208,296 (#9 most common name)

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#9. Julie

Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 12,535
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 152 (#690 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 166,149 (#18 most common name)

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#8. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,279
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 231,169 (#6 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#7. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 13,316
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 225,445 (#7 most common name)

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#6. Laura

Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 14,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 285 (#396 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 174,181 (#16 most common name)

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#5. Kimberly

Kimberly is a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 15,867
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 595 (#179 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 259,072 (#5 most common name)

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#4. Karen

Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 16,371
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 117 (#846 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 286,054 (#4 most common name)

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#3. Susan

Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 18,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#1268 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 287,661 (#3 most common name)

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#2. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 22,460
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 721 (#148 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 355,238 (#2 most common name)

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#1. Lisa

Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".

Illinois
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 25,558
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#1285 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 60s)

National:
- Babies from 1960 to 1969: 496,983 (#1 most common name)

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