Boomers - What were the most popular names of your friends? (move, conversation)

[in_newengland]

1950s names in my class were Linda, Cathy, Paula, Ann, Carol. Boys were Jimmy, David, Charles, John, Steve.

[shamrock4]

1950s and 1960s names I grew up were Barbara, Diane, Susan, Nancy, Sharon (Sherry), Christine, Deborah (Debbie), Linda, Maryann, Shirley, Karen, Sandy and Cathy (Kathy).

Boys were Jim, David, Tim, Tom, Brian, Bob, Doug, Steve and Bill.

The “fancy” names girls wanted in my school were Kimberley, Candice and Valerie!

[Katarina Witt]

"Linda" was the most popular girl's name in the US from 1947 to 1952, and remained in the top 5 until 1964. There are 5 on my page of the senior yearbook.
https://www.bustle.com/p/linda-is-th...ted-pick-30410

Girlfriends' names: Debbie, Susan (Susie), Patti (Patty, Patricia), Judy, Karen, Kathy.

Guys' names: David, James (Jamie), Robert (Bob, Rob), Fred, John, Edward.

[ihatetodust]

Not a boomer but the most popular boy names when I was in school seemed to be Dave and Steve. They all had to have nicknames cause every class had so many.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by sheena12

I was looking at some elementary school class pictures and I began to notice the most frequently occurring names in my classed - K-6 at John F. Birmingham Elementary school, class of 1969. There were three classes per grade. (Suburban NYC)

Here is what I came up with - In no particular order.

Girls -

1. Susan
2. Karen
3. Debbie (Debra, Deborah)
4. Cathy/ Kathy (either as a stand alone name or
shorth for Katherine, Kathryn, Kathleen, Catherine etc.)
5. Patty (Patricia)
6. Lori, Laura, Laurie)
7. Janice, Janet, Jan, Jenette.
8. Sharon, Cheryl, Sherry, Cheri. (Sh and Ch names pronounced "Sh" not "Ch" an in "change"
9. Beth, Liz, Betsey (Elizabeth)
10. Donna.

Other girl trends - Double names - Sue Anne, Mary Jo, Mary anything
Beth Ann, Sue Ellen, etc.

"Leen" and "Lene" names. Colleen, Paulene, Eileen.

Honorable mentions - Linda, Lynn, Dawn, Denise, JoAnne, Paula.

Boys

1. Michael
2. Mark
3. Stephen, Steven, Steve
4. Robert - Bob, Bobby. Robbie, Rob
5. Jeff (Jeffrey)
6. David
7. Kevin
8. Scott
9. Craig
19. James

Honorable mentions - Todd, Bruce, Gary, Keith, Alan, Kenneth, Douglas. Brian, and Paul.

So, Boomers, what was popular where you lived? How different is my list from yours?

Ha. I'm in your first list of girls. Tonight I went to the wake of another name on that list. Two of my sisters are on the list also. Looks valid to me.

I think your boy list is missing Bill/Billy, Rich/Richie/Richard, and Thomas/Tommy/Tom

[NW4me]

There were several Bills on my HS cross-country team
(and it wasn't a large team).

For girls' names, I recall there were quite a few Nancys and Kims.

As to uncommon names, I had a Jr HS friend named Dean.
I don't think I've met another Dean in all the years since then,
though it certainly isn't the rarest of names.

[CatzPaw]

My name never has been on any popular or common list. It's not so much weird as unusual. I have only encountered a few others with the name and only once in person.

It's a name better suited to the adult me. I always (and still do) went by a nickname.

In addition, my middle name is my mother's maiden surname. My last name can be and is often used as a first name.

Sometimes (picture first days of school) they weren't sure of the order: Was I first name/last name or last name/first name?

Sometimes people could not pronounce my first name correctly.

I've had people say they'd never heard the name before.

I dropped the use of the middle name when I married.

It's occasionally been kind of a pain. But I like it all right as I've lived with it now for a long time and I'm the only one in the world I've found with this particular combination.

My parents must have gotten it out of their systems with me because my three younger siblings have pretty common names that no one goofs up.

[Avalon08]

1950 here: The era of Linda, Barbara, Susan, Carol, Kathy, Nancy, Debbie. We had a Renee in our class with a French last name, I always thought that was so exotic.

Boys were Michael, William, James, Joseph, John....names that have remained popular well after the girls' names have come and gone.

[Signs9]

Same as the list. My name is Diane and growing up I didn't know any other Dianes. However now in my mid 60s I know a LOT of other boomer Dianes.

[Bayarea4]

Girls:
Linda
Debbie
Cathy
Susan
Barbara
Sharon
Jan
Mary
Nancy
Judy

Boys:
John
David
Ron
Jim
Steve
Mark
Gary
Bill
Mike
Brian