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 Alaska 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.
riggleton // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 170
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#936 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#23 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
2 / 30#29. Martha
Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 179
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#936 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#42 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Catherine
Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 185
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#256 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#30 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
4 / 30#27. Theresa
Theresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "late summer".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 196
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#399 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 89,593 (#35 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
5 / 30#26. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 199
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#399 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#21 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
6 / 30#25. Teresa
Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 200
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#399 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#28 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
7 / 30#24. Katherine
Katherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 201
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#188 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,854 (#53 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
8 / 30#23. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 206
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#305 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#26 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
9 / 30#22. Laura
Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,527 (#34 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#19 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
11 / 30#20. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 257
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#16 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
12 / 30#19. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 282
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#15 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Cheryl
Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#18 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 299
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#22 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#8 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 339
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#13 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#11 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 348
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#9 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 353
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#12 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 355
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#20 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#14 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
22 / 30#9. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 422
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 457
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
24 / 30#7. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 478
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#7 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 548
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 646
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 648
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 758
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
30 / 30#1. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 826
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)