Names that Peaked in 1958

  1. Michael
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "who is like God?"
    • Description:

      Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names, it's still widely used.
  2. Mary
    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Egyptian
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"
    • Description:

      Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).
  3. Susan
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Susannah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Although Susan had her heyday from the thirties to the sixties, and is now common among moms and new grandmas, and though most modern parents would prefer Susanna/Susannah, we have spotted some flickers of interest in a revival. It still retains a certain black-eyed-Susan freshness.
  4. Dale
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "valley"
    • Description:

      A light and breezy nature name that's currently in style limbo, despite its pleasant meaning.
  5. Steven
    • Origin:

      English variation of Stephen
    • Meaning:

      "garland, crown"
    • Description:

      Steven, the phonetic and now predominant spelling of the classier Stephen, has finally dropped out of the Top 100 after seventy years. Steve has become one of the ultimate regular-guy names, right up there with Dave and Joe. and there have been innumerable pop-culture role models among its bearers--from Steven Spielberg to Steven Soderbergh to Steve Jobs.
  6. Sal
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Salvador or Salvatore, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "savior"
    • Description:

      The sidekick in almost every movie or TV show with an Italo-American setting, this once common name has now fallen onto the endangered list, given to fewer than 50 baby boys each year.
  7. Von
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "hope"
    • Description:

      One of those midcentury shortenings that are starting to sound cool again, though we prefer Van.
  8. Darlene
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "darling"
    • Description:

      A modern(ish) invented name, only in widespread use since the 20th century. It is a combination of the English word darling and the popular midcentury suffix -lene.
  9. Mel
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Melvin
    • Meaning:

      "council protector"
    • Description:

      Though most Mels are playing pinochle with Murray and Morris, there was a notable Saint Mel. He is one of the earliest Irish saints, a nephew of St. Patrick. He became a priest, then built a great monastery where he served as abbot.
  10. Cheryl
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name, variation of Cherie, French
    • Meaning:

      "darling"
    • Description:

      As frozen in the pre-Beatles era as short white gloves.
  11. Ginny
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Virginia, American place-name and Latin
    • Meaning:

      "virginal"
    • Description:

      Ginny was more common before Jenny and its myriad variants came along.
  12. Blane
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "yellow"
    • Description:

      Blane is the attractive surname name of an important seventh-century Scottish saint, but is in danger of sounding slightly feminine and soap opera-ish.
  13. Del
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive
    • Meaning:

      "small valley"
    • Description:

      The kind of name last found in northern Wisconsin in the 1950s, and even then it was probably a nickname for Delbert.
  14. Ricky
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Richard or Frederick
    • Meaning:

      "dominant or peaceful ruler"
    • Description:

      Gone with Richard and Rick, Ricky has been falling since the turn of the 21st century. Probably still suffering from overuse in the 1990s.
  15. Kathy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Katherine and Kathleen
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      There are lots of Kathy moms and grandmas but very few babies, most of whom are now called Kate or Katie.
  16. Rick
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Richard, Frederick
    • Description:

      Last cool when Bogie roamed Casablanca.
  17. Patrice
    • Origin:

      French variation of PATRICIA
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      Patrice is a more modern-sounding and polished unisex alternative to Patricia.
  18. Vic
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Victor, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "conqueror"
    • Description:

      This short form of classic Victor is popular in its own right in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  19. Cathy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Catherine
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      One of the most popular nicknames of the fifties and sixties -- and who could forget the romantic heroine of "Wuthering Heights"? -- now largely ignored in favor of Cate or Kate.
  20. Val
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Valentina, Valerie, etc
    • Description:

      Occasionally used as an independent name, but why.