Minnesota's most popular baby names in 1966

In the year 1966, the state of Minnesota saw a surge of newborns with popular names that have stood the test of time. For baby girls, Lisa, Julie, and Mary were the top picks among parents. Lisa, meaning "God is my oath," has been a popular name for decades and continues to be a beloved choice for baby girls. Julie, meaning "youthful," also remains a classic name that has been popular for generations. Mary, a timeless name meaning "bitter," has been a popular choice for parents for centuries.

For baby boys, Michael, David, and John were the most popular names in Minnesota in 1966. Michael, meaning "who is like God," has been a popular name for boys since biblical times and continues to be a top pick for parents. David, meaning "beloved," is a timeless name that has been popular for centuries. John, meaning "God is gracious," has been a popular name for boys for generations and remains a classic choice for parents. These names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents in Minnesota and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in Minnesota in 1966

In Minnesota in 1966, the most popular baby girl names were Lisa, Julie, Mary, Michelle, and Susan. Lisa was the most popular name with 1142 babies given that name, followed by Julie with 720 babies. Mary, Michelle, and Susan were also popular names with 669, 640, and 624 babies given those names, respectively.

Lisa

1142 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Julie

720 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Julie
The name Julie is a French name that means "youthful" or "full of energy". It is derived from the Latin name Julia, which means "soft-haired" or "youthful".
Mary

669 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Mary
Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.
Michelle

640 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Michelle
Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin. The name means "who is like God" or "gift from God." It is a variation of the name Michael, which comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God." The name Michelle has been used in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century and has gained popularity over time.
Susan

624 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Susan
The name Susan means "lily" or "graceful lily" in Hebrew. It was a popular name in the 1940s and 1950s, but has since declined in popularity.
Kimberly
536 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Kimberly
The name Kimberly means "from the wood of the royal forest" or "royal fortress meadow". It is of Old English origin and was first used as a given name in the 1940s.
Jennifer
465 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Jennifer
The name Jennifer is of Welsh origin and means "fair and smooth". It was first used as a given name in the United States in the 20th century and became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
Lori
441 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Lori
The name Lori is a short form of the name Lorraine or Laurence. Its origin and meaning are uncertain, but it is believed to have French or Latin roots. Some sources suggest that it may mean "crowned with laurel" or "victorious." However, the exact meaning of the name Lori remains unknown.
Karen
441 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Amy
415 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Amy
The name Amy means "beloved" or "dearly loved" in French and Latin. It is a popular name for girls and has been used since the Middle Ages.
Dawn
403 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Dawn
The name Dawn means "the first appearance of light, daybreak" and is often given to girls born at or around sunrise. It is derived from the Old English word "dagian" which means "to become day".
Brenda
394 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Brenda
The name Brenda is of Old Norse origin and means "sword" or "torch". It was popularized in the 20th century as a given name, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.
Christine
353 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Christine
The name Christine is of Greek origin and means "follower of Christ".
Nancy
349 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Kelly
338 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Kelly
The name Kelly is of Irish origin and means "bright-headed" or "warrior". It is a unisex name, meaning it can be given to both boys and girls. The name has been popularized by its use as a surname and has been used as a given name since the 20th century.
Jill
321 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Jill
The name Jill is a diminutive form of the name Jillian, which is of Latin origin. The meaning of the name Jill is "youthful" or "childlike".
Patricia
320 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Patricia
The name Patricia is derived from the Latin word "patricius," meaning "noble" or "aristocratic." It was a popular name in the Roman Empire and later spread throughout Europe. The name is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, kindness, and leadership.
Sandra
301 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Sandra
The name Sandra is a variant of the name Alexandra, which is of Greek origin. The name Alexandra means "defender of mankind" or "protector of humanity". Therefore, it can be inferred that the name Sandra has a similar meaning.
Barbara
297 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Barbara
The name Barbara is of Greek origin, derived from the word "barbaros" which means foreign or strange. It was a popular name in the Middle Ages and was often given to girls born on St. Barbara's feast day. The name has been used in various cultures and languages around the world.
Tammy
292 baby girls born in Minnesota (1966) named Tammy
The name Tammy is a diminutive form of the name Tamara, which has Hebrew origins and means "palm tree" or "date tree". The exact meaning of Tammy is unclear, but it is generally considered to be a modern English name that is derived from Tamara.

Most popular baby boy names in Minnesota in 1966

In 1966, the most popular baby boy name in Minnesota was Michael, with a total of 1592 babies given that name. The second most popular name was David, with 1350 babies named David that year. John came in third with 1169 babies, followed closely by James with 1012 babies. Rounding out the top five was Scott, with 987 babies given that name.

Michael

1592 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Michael
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
David

1350 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named David
The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.
John

1169 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named John
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.
James

1012 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Scott

987 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Scott
The name Scott is of Scottish origin and means "from Scotland" or "wanderer". It is a common surname that has been used as a first name since the 19th century.
Mark
918 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Mark
The name Mark is derived from the Latin name "Marcus" which means "dedicated to Mars", the Roman god of war. It is a popular name among Christians as it is the name of one of the four Gospel writers in the New Testament. The name Mark is also associated with qualities such as courage, strength, and leadership.
Robert
907 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Robert
The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.
Steven
848 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Jeffrey
845 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Thomas
817 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Thomas
The name Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin". It is a common name in many cultures and has been used for centuries.
Timothy
788 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Timothy
The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.
Daniel
782 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Daniel
The name Daniel means "God is my judge".
Brian
728 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Brian
The name Brian is of Irish origin and means "strong, virtuous, and honorable". It is a popular name for boys in Ireland and has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.
Paul
716 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Paul
The name Paul is of Latin origin and means "small" or "humble". It was originally derived from the Roman family name Paulus, which was a common name in ancient Rome. The name has been popularized by various saints and biblical figures, including the apostle Paul, who was a significant figure in the early Christian church.
Todd
704 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Todd
The name Todd is of English origin and means "fox". It was originally a surname before becoming a first name.
Richard
576 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Kevin
534 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Kevin
The name Kevin is of Irish origin and means "handsome" or "gentle birth". It is derived from the Irish name Caoimhín, which is composed of the Gaelic words "caomh" meaning "kind" or "gentle" and "gin" meaning "birth".
Christopher
459 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
William
432 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named William
The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.
Patrick
379 baby boys born in Minnesota (1966) named Patrick
The name Patrick is of Irish origin and means "nobleman" or "patrician". It is derived from the Latin name Patricius, which was given to the sons of Roman nobles who had become citizens of Ireland. The name has been popularized by Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the country.