In 1961 parents in Iowa chose a mix of unique and traditional names for their newborns, reflecting the diverse influences of the times from Des Moines to Ames. Discover the most popular baby names in Iowa 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 Iowa in 1961.
| 1 | David | 2,444 | Lisa | 1,469 |
| 2 | Michael | 2,215 | Mary | 1,151 |
| 3 | James | 1,972 | Karen | 941 |
| 4 | Mark | 1,909 | Susan | 941 |
| 5 | John | 1,890 | Linda | 919 |
| 6 | Robert | 1,669 | Teresa | 781 |
| 7 | Jeffrey | 1,248 | Brenda | 763 |
| 8 | William | 1,171 | Kimberly | 718 |
| 9 | Timothy | 1,050 | Lori | 676 |
| 10 | Kevin | 1,049 | Pamela | 675 |
| 11 | Richard | 1,014 | Debra | 658 |
| 12 | Thomas | 941 | Cynthia | 642 |
| 13 | Brian | 913 | Kathy | 638 |
| 14 | Steven | 850 | Julie | 618 |
| 15 | Gregory | 740 | Donna | 571 |
| 16 | Charles | 735 | Cheryl | 563 |
| 17 | Scott | 702 | Laura | 554 |
| 18 | Donald | 695 | Barbara | 548 |
| 19 | Daniel | 670 | Patricia | 547 |
| 20 | Gary | 637 | Deborah | 546 |
| 21 | Ronald | 619 | Tammy | 546 |
| 22 | Kenneth | 566 | Sandra | 538 |
| 23 | Paul | 558 | Nancy | 513 |
| 24 | Joseph | 553 | Debbie | 492 |
| 25 | Douglas | 543 | Robin | 462 |
| 26 | Larry | 526 | Elizabeth | 460 |
| 27 | Christopher | 493 | Rebecca | 449 |
| 28 | Terry | 479 | Tina | 438 |
| 29 | Anthony | 466 | Carol | 432 |
| 30 | Jeff | 441 | Cindy | 409 |
| 31 | Jerry | 419 | Sharon | 406 |
| 32 | Jeffery | 414 | Beth | 401 |
| 33 | Randy | 408 | Janet | 377 |
| 34 | Mike | 401 | Denise | 367 |
| 35 | Dennis | 384 | Rhonda | 365 |
| 36 | Stephen | 371 | Kelly | 361 |
| 37 | Tony | 351 | Michelle | 352 |
| 38 | Keith | 349 | Diane | 347 |
| 39 | Roger | 345 | Terri | 335 |
| 40 | Todd | 320 | Dawn | 333 |
| 41 | Bruce | 317 | Connie | 328 |
| 42 | Steve | 317 | Jennifer | 328 |
| 43 | Eric | 314 | Angela | 324 |
| 44 | Tim | 312 | Cathy | 321 |
| 45 | Edward | 290 | Kim | 304 |
| 46 | Patrick | 273 | Diana | 300 |
| 47 | Danny | 269 | Kathleen | 282 |
| 48 | Randall | 267 | Theresa | 280 |
| 49 | Chris | 262 | Jill | 250 |
| 50 | Ricky | 258 | Sherry | 248 |
| 51 | Bradley | 247 | Jane | 246 |
| 52 | George | 244 | Tamara | 244 |
| 53 | Greg | 240 | Penny | 234 |
| 54 | Phillip | 229 | Paula | 224 |
| 55 | Dale | 224 | Vicki | 224 |
| 56 | Craig | 223 | Jacqueline | 219 |
| 57 | Alan | 214 | Christine | 217 |
| 58 | Bryan | 212 | Janice | 211 |
| 59 | Jay | 199 | Carolyn | 210 |
| 60 | Carl | 198 | Carla | 209 |
| 61 | Andrew | 196 | Joyce | 205 |
| 62 | Rodney | 196 | Amy | 202 |
| 63 | Matthew | 190 | Judy | 202 |
| 64 | Rick | 189 | Margaret | 202 |
| 65 | Jack | 188 | Laurie | 199 |
| 66 | Jim | 188 | Tracy | 197 |
| 67 | Tom | 184 | Anita | 195 |
| 68 | Troy | 182 | Peggy | 195 |
| 69 | Joe | 180 | Beverly | 192 |
| 70 | Russell | 176 | Ann | 189 |
| 71 | Jon | 173 | Sheila | 188 |
| 72 | Raymond | 162 | Rita | 185 |
| 73 | Barry | 158 | Catherine | 179 |
| 74 | Darrell | 155 | Becky | 174 |
| 75 | Gerald | 155 | Julia | 171 |
| 76 | Dean | 152 | Sherri | 166 |
| 77 | Brent | 150 | Michele | 165 |
| 78 | Kent | 150 | Melissa | 160 |
| 79 | Frank | 148 | Judith | 159 |
| 80 | Billy | 139 | Jackie | 154 |
| 81 | Philip | 138 | Stephanie | 153 |
| 82 | Brad | 136 | Vickie | 146 |
| 83 | Tracy | 135 | Annette | 143 |
| 84 | Martin | 132 | Betty | 141 |
| 85 | Curtis | 128 | Ruth | 138 |
| 86 | Bill | 127 | Kathryn | 136 |
| 87 | Wayne | 124 | Bonnie | 129 |
| 88 | Lawrence | 123 | Lynn | 128 |
| 89 | Kerry | 118 | Martha | 127 |
| 90 | Ronnie | 116 | Anne | 126 |
| 91 | Samuel | 115 | Marcia | 126 |
| 92 | Walter | 115 | Melinda | 126 |
| 93 | Allen | 112 | Sarah | 126 |
| 94 | Harold | 112 | Darlene | 124 |
| 95 | Dan | 108 | Tonya | 124 |
| 96 | Duane | 108 | Valerie | 124 |
| 97 | Don | 105 | Marilyn | 123 |
| 98 | Dave | 100 | Regina | 122 |
| 99 | Roy | 100 | Sandy | 121 |
| 100 | Glenn | 98 | Christina | 120 |
| 101 | Jean | 120 |