West virginia's most popular baby names in 1961

In the year 1961, the state of West Virginia witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Mary, Tammy, and Lisa were the top choices for baby girls, while David, James, and John were the most popular names for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless classic, retained its top position for yet another year. Tammy and Lisa, on the other hand, were relatively new additions to the list and quickly gained popularity. Among baby boys, David, James, and John continued to dominate the charts, with David leading the pack. These names were a reflection of the cultural and social trends of the time and continue to be popular choices for parents even today.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1961

In 1961, the most popular baby girl names in West Virginia were Mary, Tammy, Lisa, Kimberly, and Brenda. Mary was the most popular name with 468 babies given that name. Tammy was the second most popular name with 407 babies, followed by Lisa with 395 babies. Kimberly and Brenda were also popular names with 352 and 336 babies respectively.

Mary

468 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Tammy

407 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Lisa

395 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Lisa
The name Lisa is a short form of the name Elizabeth and means "God is my oath" or "pledged to God".
Kimberly

352 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Brenda

336 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Donna
326 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Donna
The name Donna is of Italian origin and means "lady" or "woman". It was initially used as a title of respect for women of high social status in Italy, but later became a popular given name in English-speaking countries.
Teresa
318 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Teresa
The name Teresa is derived from the Greek name Therasia, which means "harvester" or "reaper". It has also been associated with the Spanish word "teresa", meaning "to harvest". The name has been popularized by Saint Teresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic and writer who lived in the 16th century. The name is commonly given to girls and is of Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian origin.
Pamela
305 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Pamela
The name Pamela is of Greek origin and means "all sweetness" or "honeyed". It was first popularized by Sir Philip Sidney in his pastoral romance "Arcadia" (1590) and later by Samuel Richardson in his novel "Pamela" (1740).
Debra
303 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Debra
The name Debra is of Hebrew origin and means "bee." It is a variant spelling of Deborah.
Kathy
295 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Kathy
The name Kathy is a diminutive form of the name Katherine, which means "pure" or "clear". It is of Greek origin and has been a popular name in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Karen
271 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Susan
258 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Linda
254 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Linda
The name Linda means "beautiful" or "pretty" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and other Romance languages. It is also derived from the Germanic word "lind," which means "gentle" or "soft."
Patricia
252 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Deborah
240 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Deborah
Deborah is a Hebrew name that means "bee". It is derived from the Hebrew word "d'vorah" which also means "word" or "thing". The name Deborah is often associated with strength, wisdom, and leadership, as the biblical Deborah was a judge and prophetess who led the Israelites to victory over their enemies.
Robin
238 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Robin
The name Robin is of English origin and is derived from the bird of the same name. It is a unisex name and means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance".
Sandra
231 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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
218 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Rebecca
200 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Rebecca
Rebecca means "captivating" or "knotted cord" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name, borne by the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament.
Connie
196 baby girls born in West virginia (1961) named Connie
The name Connie is a diminutive form of the name Constance, which is derived from the Latin word "constantia" meaning "steadfastness" or "constancy". The name Connie is often used as a standalone name and can also be a nickname for other names such as Constance, Constanza, or Conrad.

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1961

According to the data collected in 1961, the most popular baby boy names in West Virginia were David, James, John, Michael, and Robert. David was the most popular name with 923 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 875 babies. John, Michael, and Robert were also popular choices with 795, 748, and 680 babies given those names, respectively.

David

923 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
James

875 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John

795 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Michael

748 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Robert

680 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Mark
594 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
William
542 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Timothy
455 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Charles
446 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Charles
The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.
Jeffrey
445 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Richard
404 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Thomas
294 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.
Gregory
283 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Gregory
The name Gregory is of Greek origin and means "vigilant, watchful".
Gary
245 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Gary
The name Gary is of English origin and means "spear rule" or "spear carrier". It was originally a surname but became popular as a given name in the 20th century. People with this name are believed to be independent, practical, and analytical.
Donald
242 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Joseph
233 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Kenneth
230 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Ronald
228 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Kevin
227 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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".
Paul
226 baby boys born in West virginia (1961) 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.