Most popular baby names of 1967

The top three names for American girls remained remarkably stable from 1966 to 1967, with Lisa and Kimberly maintaining their first and second positions respectively. The only change came with Michelle rising from fourth place to claim the third spot, nudging Mary down a position after it held the third rank in 1966. This subtle shift suggests a growing preference for more contemporary feminine names over traditional ones like Mary.

Among the top 10 girls' names in 1967, Melissa made the most dramatic climb, jumping from 22nd place in 1966 to 9th place in 1967. Jennifer continued its steady presence at 10th position, while Angela moved up two spots from 9th to 7th. Tammy held steady at 8th place across both years. The top 10 girls' names in 1967 featured a noticeable preference for names ending with the feminine "a" sound, including Lisa, Angela, Melissa, and Patricia, reflecting parents' continuing attraction to melodic, clearly feminine name choices.

For boys, the top three names showed complete stability between 1966 and 1967, with Michael, David, and James firmly holding onto their respective first, second, and third positions. This consistency demonstrates the enduring popularity of these classic masculine names during this period. Within the top 10, however, Christopher made a significant leap from 12th place in 1966 to 9th place in 1967, while Brian also moved up from 14th to 10th. Interestingly, Jeffrey dropped out of the top 10 entirely, falling from 9th place to 13th.

Looking at broader naming patterns, short, approachable names dominated the top rankings for both genders in 1967. For girls, four-letter names like Lisa, Mary, and Amy appeared frequently in the top ranks, while boys' names showed a preference for biblical classics like Michael, David, James, and John. The letter "M" featured prominently at the top of both lists, with Michael leading the boys and Michelle making its way into the top three for girls. Traditional names continued to maintain strong positions overall, though the rising popularity of names like Michelle and Melissa suggests a gradual shift toward more contemporary choices that would accelerate in later decades.

Top baby names of 1967