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 Arizona 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.
Oleggg // Shutterstock
1 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 795
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,057 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
2 / 30Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 822
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#841 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#49 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
3 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 825
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#841 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
4 / 30Sylvia is a name of Latin origin meaning "forest".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 835
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#750 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,470 (#104 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
5 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 842
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 62 (#881 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 69,779 (#63 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
6 / 30Rose is a name of Latin origin, derived from the word "rosa" which refers to the flower.
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 456 (#134 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,684 (#66 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
7 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 869
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 456 (#134 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
8 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 936
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 298 (#218 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,055
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 298 (#218 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
10 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#897 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
11 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,069
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 223 (#325 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
12 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,131
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,538 (#21 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
13 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#1,061 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
14 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,188
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#628 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,696 (#42 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
15 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,191
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,203
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,574 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
17 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,242
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,540 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
18 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,281
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,540 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,287
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#996 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
20 / 30Maria is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "sea of bitterness".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,317
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 899 (#54 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 62,316 (#70 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,606
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 64 (#871 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
22 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,628
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#662 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
23 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,686
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#826 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,845
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#795 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
25 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,953
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#795 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
26 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,197
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,406 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
27 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,220
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#1,387 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
28 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,784
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 73 (#814 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,248
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#1,019 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Arizona
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,580
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 258 (#273 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
