By 1960, the United States population was up over 179 million people. Just 16 days after John F Kennedy was elected President, his first child was born — a son, who they named John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr.
Also born this year: REM’s Michael Stipe (born John Michael Stipe), Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson (full name: Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson), and future football legend John Elway.
1960 also marked the start of a new decade of awesome music. Elvis had two #1 singles — Are You Lonesome Tonight? and It’s Now or Never — and other chart-toppers that year include The Drifters’ Save the Last Dance for Me and Chubby Checker’s The Twist.
Check out how kids were being named in the year 1960 with this list of the top 50 names for baby boys and girls. Click on any of the names to find out more — including its meaning, origin and similar names — and tell us what you think!
Top baby names of 1960
Source: US Social Security Administration
