Most popular baby names of 1962

Looking at baby name trends between 1961 and 1962 in the US, we see some subtle yet noteworthy shifts in popularity. Lisa claimed the top spot for girls in 1962, pushing Mary to second place after its reign at #1 in 1961. Susan maintained its solid third position across both years, showing remarkable consistency. The top three boys' names remained completely stable from 1961 to 1962, with Michael, David, and John holding firmly to their respective rankings.

Among the top 10 girls' names in 1962, Lisa's rise to prominence stands out as the most significant change. Karen moved up one spot from #5 to #4, while Linda dropped from #4 to #5. Donna, Cynthia, and Deborah maintained their positions at #7, #8, and #9 respectively. Sandra fell one position to #10, making room for Patricia to hold steady at #6. Most of these names feature soft sounds and often end with the feminine "a" or "ah" sounds that were characteristic of the early 1960s.

The top 10 boys' names in 1962 exhibited remarkable stability compared to the previous year. Beyond the unchanged top three, we see James, Robert, and Mark holding their fourth, fifth, and sixth positions respectively. William and Richard likewise maintained their spots at #7 and #8. The only movement came with Thomas jumping up to #9 from #10, while Jeffrey claimed the final spot in the top 10, climbing up from #11 in 1961 and displacing Steven, which fell to #12.

Looking at broader naming patterns, traditional names continued to dominate for both genders in the early 1960s. For girls, names ending with "a" sounds (Lisa, Linda, Sandra) and "y" sounds (Mary, Kathy, Nancy) were particularly popular. Among boys' names, biblical choices remained strong with Michael, David, James, and John all in the top rankings. Short, two-syllable names were fashionable for both genders, reflecting the straightforward naming preferences of the era. Interestingly, while most top names had been popular for decades, newcomers like Lisa and Kimberly for girls hinted at the shifting naming landscape that would accelerate throughout the 1960s.

Top baby names of 1962