West virginia's most popular baby names in 1966

In 1966, the state of West Virginia saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Lisa, Kimberly, and Tammy were the top choices. These names were not only popular in West Virginia but across the United States as well. Lisa, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my oath," was the most popular name for baby girls that year. Kimberly, a name of English origin meaning "from the wood of the royal forest," was the second most popular name, followed by Tammy, a name of English origin meaning "a twin."

For baby boys, James, David, and Michael were the top choices in West Virginia. James, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter," was the most popular name for baby boys that year. David, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved," was the second most popular name, followed by Michael, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God." These names have remained popular over the years, with many parents still choosing them for their newborns today.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1966

In West Virginia in 1966, Lisa was the most popular baby girl name with 619 babies receiving that name. Kimberly was the second most popular name with 425 babies being named that, followed by Tammy with 338 babies. Mary was the fourth most popular name with 285 babies receiving that name, and Melissa was the fifth most popular name with 251 babies being named that.

Lisa

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

425 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Tammy

338 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Mary

285 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Melissa

251 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) named Melissa
The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." It was a popular name in ancient Greece and is often associated with sweetness and industriousness.
Angela
241 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) named Angela
The name Angela is derived from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger of God". It is a feminine name that has been used in various cultures and languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and German. Angela is often associated with qualities such as kindness, compassion, and grace.
Tina
206 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) named Tina
The name Tina is a diminutive form of Christina, which is derived from the Greek name Christos, meaning "anointed one" or "follower of Christ." Therefore, the name Tina can be interpreted as "follower of Christ" or "anointed one."
Pamela
188 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) 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).
Karen
187 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Teresa
186 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) 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.
Donna
173 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) 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.
Patricia
171 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Brenda
169 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Rebecca
164 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) 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.
Susan
150 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Sandra
148 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Robin
138 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) 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".
Jennifer
136 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Cynthia
134 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) named Cynthia
The name Cynthia means "moon goddess" or "from Mount Kynthos" in Greek. It is also associated with the Greek mythological figure Artemis, who was known as the goddess of the hunt and the moon. The name Cynthia has been in use since ancient times and has remained relatively popular throughout history.
Sherry
132 baby girls born in West virginia (1966) named Sherry
The name Sherry is derived from the French word "chérie" which means "beloved" or "darling". It is often used as a nickname for the name Sharon or a variation of it. The name Sherry became popular in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1966

In West Virginia in 1966, the most popular baby boy names were James, David, Michael, John, and Robert. James was the most popular name with 704 babies given that name, followed by David with 636, Michael with 611, John with 598, and Robert with 527. These classic names have remained popular over the years and continue to be used for baby boys today.

James

704 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
David

636 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Michael

611 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
John

598 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Robert

527 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
William
396 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Timothy
367 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Charles
360 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) 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
334 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Jeffrey
The name Jeffrey is of Germanic origin and means "peaceful pledge". It is a variant of the name Geoffrey.
Richard
332 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Mark
319 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Brian
282 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Kevin
243 baby boys born in West virginia (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".
Thomas
219 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Gregory
205 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Gregory
The name Gregory is of Greek origin and means "vigilant, watchful".
Donald
204 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Ronald
203 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Joseph
200 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Steven
200 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Kenneth
191 baby boys born in West virginia (1966) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".