Most popular girl names in the 50s in California

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June 4, 2026
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Most popular girl names in the 50s in California

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 California 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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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#30. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,012
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 284 (#1,041 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)

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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#29. Catherine

Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,413
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,543 (#234 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#28. Kathy

Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,798
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 227 (#1,220 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)

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Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

#27. Margaret

Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,901
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,223 (#306 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#26. Teresa

Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 609 (#589 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)

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Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

#25. Christine

Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,168
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 425 (#772 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#24. Julie

Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,332
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 836 (#443 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#43 most common name)

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Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock

#23. Laura

Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,771
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 929 (#397 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,527 (#38 most common name)

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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock

#22. Lisa

Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,286
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 508 (#687 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,773 (#37 most common name)

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javi_indy // Shutterstock

#21. Denise

Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,754
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 457 (#735 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)

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Mcimage // Shutterstock

#20. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,547
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8,107 (#23 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)

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ucchie79 // Shutterstock

#19. Janet

Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 262 (#1,107 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Cheryl

Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,033
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#2,613 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#17. Diane

Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,203
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 141 (#1,679 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#16. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,972
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 254 (#1,136 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#15. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 304 (#988 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#14. Carol

Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,564
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 152 (#1,602 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#13. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 464 (#727 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)

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Blend Images // Shutterstock

#12. Pamela

Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,135
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#1,396 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)

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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#11. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,577
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 392 (#819 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)

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Surne1shots // Shutterstock

#10. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,604
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 476 (#716 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#9. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,822
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 284 (#1,041 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)

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Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

#8. Cynthia

Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,445
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 757 (#494 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#7. Karen

Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 27,276
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 761 (#491 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#6. Debra

Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 27,532
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#4,899 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#5. Deborah

Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,371
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 310 (#972 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)

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Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock

#4. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 30,445
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 362 (#874 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)

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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#3. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 33,482
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,247 (#303 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#2. Susan

Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 35,647
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 202 (#1,317 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#1. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 40,850
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 589 (#606 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)

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