John F. Kennedy was elected U.S. president in late 1960, and began serving his term in early 1961.
He was assassinated in Texas on November 22, 1963 — 53 years ago today.
During the first half of the 1960s — especially around the time of the assassination — all three of his names saw increased usage on the U.S. baby name charts. In fact, both Fitzgerald and Kennedy (as a male name) saw their highest-ever usage in 1964:
| Boys named John | Boys named Fitzgerald | Boys named Kennedy | |
| 1965 | 71,563 [rank: 2nd] | 58 [rank: 970th] | 122 [rank: 674th] |
| 1964 | 82,541 [rank: 2nd] | 125† [rank: 691st] | 230† [rank: 516th] |
| 1963 | 78,645 [rank: 2nd] | 52 | 158 [rank: 624th] |
| 1962 | 78,450 [rank: 3rd] | 10 | 85 [rank: 828th] |
| 1961 | 79,910 [rank: 3rd] | 24 | 177 [rank: 592nd] |
| 1960 | 76,124 [rank: 4th] | . | 117 [rank: 723rd] |
| 1959 | 76,425 [rank: 4th] | . | 21 |
Intriguingly, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum maintains a small collection of correspondence regarding babies named after JFK. The collection consists of 34 items (mostly typewritten and handwritten letters/telegrams) delivered from 1960 to 1963 that document eight specific JFK namesakes. Here are most of them:
- John Kennedy Adjei, born circa 1961 in Kumasi, Ghana
- John Kennedy Grant, born in July, 1960, in Haverstraw, New York
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jones, born on July 15, 1960, in Massillon, Ohio
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy, born on August 17, 1960, at Minot AFB in North Dakota
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy, born on September 8, 1960, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
- John Kennedy Twyman, born on May 15, 1960, in Cincinnati, Ohio
JFK’s wife Jacqueline and daughter Caroline also influenced U.S. baby names during the early 1960s:
| Girls named Jacqueline | Girls named Jackie | Girls named Caroline | |
| 1965 | 9,412 [rank: 47th] | 2,443 [rank: 156th] | 1,815 [rank: 187th] |
| 1964 | 11,976† [rank: 37th] | 3,235 [rank: 128th] | 2,106 [rank: 179th] |
| 1963 | 8,561 [rank: 51st] | 2,821 [rank: 142nd] | 1,690 [rank: 208th] |
| 1962 | 9,833 [rank: 44th] | 3,611 [rank: 126th] | 1,989 [rank: 186th] |
| 1961 | 10,982 [rank: 37th] | 4,257† [rank: 112th] | 2,199 [rank: 176th] |
| 1960 | 5,652 [rank: 85th] | 2,983 [rank: 144th] | 1,209 [rank: 254th] |
| 1959 | 4,324 [rank: 111th] | 2,737 [rank: 155th] | 1,043 [rank: 274th] |
P.S. Did you know that Jacqueline Kennedy pronounced her name “JAK-uh-leen“?
Source: SSA
Image: John F. Kennedy – U.S. National Archives
[Latest update: May 2024]
The pronunciation you give of “Jacqueline” is the one Jackie Kennedy used, right? Not the way most Americans pronounce it. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met an American Jacqueline who said “JAK-a-leen” (can’t write the schwa right now). JACK-a-lyn or JACK-lyn are the usual ways in my experience.
Yes, that’s the pronunciation she used. I should reword that part to make it more clear. Thanks Diane.