Check Out Colorado’s Most Popular Baby Names From the Last 60 Years
Hi, I'm Emily. I was born in the late 1990s and, as a child, took great pride in my name's popularity in the U.S.
My name is no longer America's favorite. If my birthday was 50 years ago, my parents might have called me Dawn, Julie, or Lori. The popularity of baby names is always changing — and it's interesting to see why.
RELATED: These are Colorado's 50 Most Popular Baby Names Right Now
According to JSTOR Daily, baby name trends are often a reflection of a society's pop culture and political climate. Looking back at them can tell you a lot about a particular era.
So, what are the baby name trends in Colorado's history? The U.S. Social Security Administration's Office of Chief Actuary can tell you (at least until 1960).
Today's popular baby names include monikers like Charlotte, Olivia, and Liam. Could current pop-culture phenoms like Princess Charlotte, Olivia Rodrigo, and Liam Hemsworth be responsible? In 1962, parents were fond of names like Anita, Roger, and Wendy. Perhaps these have to do with a few timely Disney films?
Some names were one-hit wonders, while others, like Jennifer and Michael, remained popular for multiple years (in these cases, I looked at the runner-ups). What is the secret behind a name's staying power?
LOOK: 39 Unique Nicknames of Colorado Towns + How They Got Them
I don't have the answers, but it is fun to wonder about the meaning behind these trends. See for yourself by checking out Colorado's most popular baby names from the last 60 years in the gallery below: