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 Arkansas 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.
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Marilyn
Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,473
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#657 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 80,149 (#56 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Teresa
Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,480
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#657 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Beverly
Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,494
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,170 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 97,785 (#36 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Connie
Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,495
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,170 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#40 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,569
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,170 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Dorothy
Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,598
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#719 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 74,470 (#58 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Martha
Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,614
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#851 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#49 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,800
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#851 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,929
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#851 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,000
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#909 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,013
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#275 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
12 / 30#19. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,103
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,048 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,164
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,048 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,201
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,048 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,490
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,048 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,048 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,538
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,814
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. Shirley
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,839
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,994
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,141
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,155
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,173
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
24 / 30#7. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,253
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,732
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#787 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,420
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,170 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,520
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#949 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,032
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,170 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,235
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 335 (#72 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
30 / 30#1. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,349
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,170 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)