Names that peaked in the 1960s

Names whose highest recorded position in an official list falls in the 1960s, with at least 3 recorded years on each side of that year.

A peak only means something against the years around it. Requiring record on both sides of the peak year keeps out names that merely start high — England and Wales publishes from 1996, so a name ranked highest in its first recorded year has not peaked, it has simply been observed.

60 names, selected from the 2,573 names in the catalogue with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Based on official statistics from national registrars. Data sources · Methodology

• David

  Highest recorded position #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1961, across a record running 1952–2018.

• Karen

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963, across a record running 1952–1986.

• Michael

  Highest recorded position #1 among boys in New Zealand in 1968, across a record running 1954–2022.

• Michelle

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1967, across a record running 1952–2000.

• Geir

  Highest recorded position #2 among boys in Norway in 1963, across a record running 1945–2024.

• Heidi

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in Norway in 1965, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Hilde

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in Norway in 1963, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Lisa

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1968, across a record running 1959–1997.

• Mark

  Highest recorded position #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960, across a record running 1952–2001.

• Sharon

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1965, across a record running 1952–1982.

• Deborah

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in New Zealand in 1966, across a record running 1954–1985.

• Nina

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in Norway in 1964, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Anita

  Highest recorded position #4 among girls in Norway in 1963, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Joanne

  Highest recorded position #4 among girls in New Zealand in 1969, across a record running 1954–1986.

• Julie

  Highest recorded position #4 among girls in New Zealand in 1960, across a record running 1954–1986.

• Paul

  Highest recorded position #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1966, across a record running 1952–1998.

• Donna

  Highest recorded position #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964, across a record running 1953–1982.

• Kim

  Highest recorded position #5 among girls in New Zealand in 1968, across a record running 1958–1985.

• Terje

  Highest recorded position #5 among boys in Norway in 1960, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Tone

  Highest recorded position #5 among girls in Norway in 1969, across a record running 1945–2024.

• Leanne

  Highest recorded position #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1968, across a record running 1957–1986.

• Trond

  Highest recorded position #6 among boys in Norway in 1968, across a record running 1945–2023.

• Bridget

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1967, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Anthony

  Highest recorded position #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1968, across a record running 1952–2021.

• Catherine

  Highest recorded position #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963, across a record running 1952–2000.

• Craig

  Highest recorded position #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1969, across a record running 1953–1991.

• Mona

  Highest recorded position #9 among girls in Norway in 1968, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Ann

  Highest recorded position #10 among girls in Norway in 1967, across a record running 1945–2023.

• Darren

  Highest recorded position #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1966, across a record running 1960–1989.

• Martina

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1967, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Mette

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in Norway in 1963, across a record running 1945–2012.

• Bernadette

  Highest recorded position #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Fiona

  Highest recorded position #12 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1969, across a record running 1956–1987.

• Linda

  Highest recorded position #12 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963, across a record running 1952–1986.

• Shane

  Highest recorded position #12 among boys in New Zealand in 1968, across a record running 1955–1998.

• Steven

  Highest recorded position #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1961, across a record running 1952–2000.

• Tom

  Highest recorded position #12 among boys in Norway in 1960, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Maria

  Highest recorded position #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1966, across a record running 1952–1985.

• Sandra

  Highest recorded position #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1961, across a record running 1952–1981.

• Brett

  Highest recorded position #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963, across a record running 1955–1992.

• Glenn

  Highest recorded position #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1962, across a record running 1952–1986.

• Gregory

  Highest recorded position #16 among boys in New Zealand in 1960, across a record running 1954–1988.

• Richard

  Highest recorded position #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960, across a record running 1952–1997.

• Rodney

  Highest recorded position #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1966, across a record running 1952–1983.

• Dag

  Highest recorded position #19 among boys in Norway in 1961, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Jacqueline

  Highest recorded position #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1968, across a record running 1952–1997.

• Marie

  Highest recorded position #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968, across a record running 1964–2024.

• Lena

  Highest recorded position #20 among girls in Norway in 1969, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Philip

  Highest recorded position #20 among boys in New Zealand in 1963, across a record running 1954–1992.

• Brent

  Highest recorded position #22 among boys in New Zealand in 1968, across a record running 1954–1987.

• Frank

  Highest recorded position #22 among boys in Norway in 1968, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Suzanne

  Highest recorded position #22 among girls in New Zealand in 1964, across a record running 1954–1981.

• Denise

  Highest recorded position #23 among girls in New Zealand in 1960, across a record running 1954–1973.

• Louise

  Highest recorded position #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1967, across a record running 1952–1995.

• Jane

  Highest recorded position #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1966, across a record running 1952–1984.

• Rita

  Highest recorded position #25 among girls in Norway in 1963, across a record running 1945–2024.

• Dean

  Highest recorded position #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1968, across a record running 1957–2007.

• Raymond

  Highest recorded position #29 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Sean

  Highest recorded position #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1967, across a record running 1963–2007.

• Alison

  Highest recorded position #30 among girls in New Zealand in 1966, across a record running 1954–1979.