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 Connecticut 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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1 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,755
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 122 (#255 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,527 (#38 most common name)
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2 / 30Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 149 (#205 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)
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3 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,861
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,042 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
4 / 30Lynn is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "waterfall".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,861
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,042 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,035 (#67 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
5 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,898
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,042 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
6 / 30Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,957
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,042 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,773 (#37 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
7 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,964
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
8 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,988
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
9 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,010
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,615 (#44 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
10 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,099
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
11 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,443
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#92 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
12 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,597
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#92 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
13 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,742
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#92 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,746
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#92 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
15 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,139
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#92 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,366
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 711 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
17 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,405
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 711 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
18 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,425
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 711 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,542
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 711 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,006
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 711 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
21 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,493
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 711 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
22 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,593
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#850 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
23 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,920
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#850 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
24 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,102
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#850 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,337
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#850 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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26 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,350
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,714
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
28 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,038
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 160 (#188 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,185
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#936 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
30 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Connecticut
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,233
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#936 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
