Perhaps no decade in US history conjures up more imagery of all-American idealism than the 1950s. A politically conservative era, the '50s introduced the world to some of the most enduring cultural touchstones of the USA: milkshakes, Elvis Presley, "I Love Lucy," and sock-hops. One might imagine classic American kids named Jimmy and Susie splitting a hot-fudge sundae at a local soda shop—and you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 50s in Alabama using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
1 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,830
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 563 (#65 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
2 / 30Annie is a name of English origin meaning "grace".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 302 (#149 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,339 (#147 most common name)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
3 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,765 (#7 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
4 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,202
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#295 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
5 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,208
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#871 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
6 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,253
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#782 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,696 (#42 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
7 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,325
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#775 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
8 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,491
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#481 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 74,470 (#58 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
9 / 30Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,538
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#751 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#49 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
10 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,619
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 29 (#960 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
photoDiod // Shutterstock
11 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,867
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 29 (#960 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
12 / 30Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,039
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 29 (#960 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,209
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,638 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
14 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,390
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,638 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
15 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,395
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#763 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,423
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#763 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
17 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#1,095 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
18 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,525
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,638 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,646
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#1,061 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
20 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,730
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#1,061 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
21 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#925 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
22 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,540
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#925 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,732
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#775 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
24 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,295
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#775 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
25 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,776
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,242 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
26 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,609
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,340 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
27 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,870
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,340 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
28 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,296
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#1,031 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,470
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#925 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Alabama
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,353 (#8 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
