In 1961 parents in California chose a mix of unique and traditional names for their newborns, reflecting the diverse influences of the times from Sacramento to San Diego. Discover the most popular baby names in California for 1961, a list that not only reveals current trends but also offers inspiration for expectant parents. Join us as we explore these names that capture the spirit and culture of California in 1961.
| 1 | David | 8,116 | Lisa | 3,768 |
| 2 | Michael | 7,927 | Susan | 3,135 |
| 3 | John | 6,841 | Karen | 3,042 |
| 4 | Robert | 6,623 | Linda | 2,741 |
| 5 | Mark | 5,514 | Mary | 2,715 |
| 6 | James | 5,177 | Sandra | 2,184 |
| 7 | Richard | 4,010 | Patricia | 2,146 |
| 8 | Steven | 3,417 | Julie | 2,135 |
| 9 | William | 3,152 | Cynthia | 2,131 |
| 10 | Daniel | 2,622 | Lori | 2,089 |
| 11 | Kevin | 2,527 | Laura | 2,045 |
| 12 | Thomas | 2,403 | Deborah | 1,830 |
| 13 | Scott | 2,315 | Elizabeth | 1,761 |
| 14 | Jeffrey | 2,313 | Donna | 1,663 |
| 15 | Paul | 2,235 | Debra | 1,646 |
| 16 | Kenneth | 2,157 | Denise | 1,599 |
| 17 | Ronald | 2,058 | Pamela | 1,568 |
| 18 | Brian | 2,052 | Cheryl | 1,565 |
| 19 | Charles | 1,942 | Nancy | 1,559 |
| 20 | Gary | 1,857 | Debbie | 1,547 |
| 21 | Timothy | 1,849 | Teresa | 1,546 |
| 22 | Gregory | 1,835 | Kathleen | 1,478 |
| 23 | Donald | 1,833 | Barbara | 1,468 |
| 24 | Joseph | 1,831 | Kimberly | 1,468 |
| 25 | Mike | 1,797 | Michelle | 1,449 |
| 26 | Anthony | 1,782 | Diane | 1,405 |
| 27 | Christopher | 1,680 | Robin | 1,371 |
| 28 | Eric | 1,480 | Sharon | 1,368 |
| 29 | Steve | 1,436 | Brenda | 1,360 |
| 30 | Edward | 1,286 | Cindy | 1,356 |
| 31 | Douglas | 1,252 | Kathy | 1,283 |
| 32 | Craig | 1,226 | Carol | 1,282 |
| 33 | Stephen | 1,222 | Kelly | 1,242 |
| 34 | Frank | 1,178 | Maria | 1,189 |
| 35 | Larry | 1,169 | Janet | 1,188 |
| 36 | Jeff | 1,150 | Jennifer | 1,174 |
| 37 | Patrick | 1,128 | Tammy | 1,136 |
| 38 | George | 1,094 | Diana | 1,135 |
| 39 | Dennis | 1,082 | Kim | 1,081 |
| 40 | Raymond | 1,026 | Tina | 1,045 |
| 41 | Randy | 1,017 | Rebecca | 1,022 |
| 42 | Chris | 976 | Theresa | 994 |
| 43 | Keith | 939 | Laurie | 972 |
| 44 | Peter | 924 | Terri | 937 |
| 45 | Jerry | 882 | Christine | 911 |
| 46 | Bruce | 871 | Catherine | 871 |
| 47 | Jim | 871 | Tracy | 868 |
| 48 | Matthew | 836 | Rhonda | 848 |
| 49 | Joe | 813 | Margaret | 802 |
| 50 | Todd | 803 | Leslie | 799 |
| 51 | Danny | 793 | Michele | 763 |
| 52 | Tony | 769 | Valerie | 761 |
| 53 | Andrew | 755 | Wendy | 749 |
| 54 | Roger | 708 | Stephanie | 746 |
| 55 | Alan | 705 | Carolyn | 723 |
| 56 | Terry | 682 | Suzanne | 710 |
| 57 | Russell | 679 | Cathy | 688 |
| 58 | Martin | 672 | Jacqueline | 673 |
| 59 | Greg | 669 | Angela | 657 |
| 60 | Jose | 655 | Annette | 628 |
| 61 | Tim | 655 | Katherine | 619 |
| 62 | Tom | 633 | Dawn | 603 |
| 63 | Jon | 632 | Jill | 600 |
| 64 | Jeffery | 614 | Renee | 597 |
| 65 | Phillip | 612 | Judy | 585 |
| 66 | Lawrence | 576 | Paula | 575 |
| 67 | Dale | 572 | Connie | 565 |
| 68 | Victor | 568 | Janice | 564 |
| 69 | Rick | 561 | Christina | 549 |
| 70 | Ricky | 550 | Dana | 543 |
| 71 | Dean | 534 | Martha | 543 |
| 72 | Randall | 527 | Anna | 536 |
| 73 | Gerald | 525 | Gloria | 530 |
| 74 | Arthur | 520 | Ann | 526 |
| 75 | Bill | 511 | Vicki | 525 |
| 76 | Dan | 507 | Sherry | 516 |
| 77 | Glenn | 505 | Victoria | 516 |
| 78 | Bryan | 499 | Sylvia | 511 |
| 79 | Troy | 494 | Lynn | 503 |
| 80 | Wayne | 477 | Yvonne | 498 |
| 81 | Darryl | 468 | Kathryn | 483 |
| 82 | Carl | 467 | Teri | 480 |
| 83 | Jack | 457 | Yolanda | 479 |
| 84 | Vincent | 456 | Sheila | 458 |
| 85 | Manuel | 454 | Carrie | 450 |
| 86 | Rodney | 453 | Tamara | 448 |
| 87 | Curtis | 446 | Andrea | 441 |
| 88 | Albert | 441 | Monica | 441 |
| 89 | Ralph | 438 | Virginia | 441 |
| 90 | Jay | 427 | Bonnie | 439 |
| 91 | Bradley | 426 | Gina | 439 |
| 92 | Ron | 424 | Colleen | 437 |
| 93 | Don | 423 | Anne | 416 |
| 94 | Roy | 423 | Sheri | 414 |
| 95 | Philip | 417 | Terry | 414 |
| 96 | Johnny | 414 | Joyce | 412 |
| 97 | Henry | 412 | Ruth | 410 |
| 98 | Dave | 411 | Anita | 396 |
| 99 | Jimmy | 401 | Rose | 383 |
| 100 | Marc | 401 | Regina | 382 |