30 baby names that were most popular in the UK 62 years ago

Some of the favourites from 1964 may still ring familiar today, while others have virtually vanished from common usage. We’re journeying back to 1964, when The Beatles were embarking on their meteoric rise to global stardom, and Harold Wilson became Prime minister.

For those born that year, 2026 marks their 62nd birthday, making this an apt moment to revisit the names bestowed upon their generation. You can discover the 100 most popular baby names today here, though there’s a particular reason we’re utilising 1964 rather than 1966 for this comparison. The Office for National Statistics published its historical baby-name data at fixed intervals, meaning 1964 represents the nearest available official record to 1966, reports the Liverpool Echo.

We’ve chosen the 15 most popular boys’ names and 15 most popular girls’ names documented in 1964, offering insight into the names that were common among newborns during that era.