Most popular girl names in the 50s in Arkansas

Written by:
June 4, 2026
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 50s in Arkansas

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.

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#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)

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Aaron Amat // Shutterstock

#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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Nina Buday // Shutterstock

#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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Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock

#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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Surne1shots // Shutterstock

#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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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#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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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#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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George Rudy // Shutterstock

#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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Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock

#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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DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#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)

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#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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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#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)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#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)

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Durganand // Shutterstock

#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)

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Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock

#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)

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Rob Marmion // Shutterstock

#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)

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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock

#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)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#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)

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CroMary // Shutterstock

#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)

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#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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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#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)

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Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock

#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)

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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#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)

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#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)

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#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)

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Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

#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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#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)

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Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock

#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)

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#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)

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