Most popular girl names in the 50s in Illinois

Written by:
June 4, 2026
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 50s in Illinois

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 Illinois 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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Impact Photography // Shutterstock

#30. Joyce

Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,035
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#1,089 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)

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Matva // Shutterstock

#29. Catherine

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,954
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 448 (#256 most common name)

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

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#28. Laura

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,999
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 285 (#396 most common name)

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

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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#27. Janice

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,963
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#1,583 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#26. Kathy

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,997
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#1,583 most common name)

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

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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#25. Judith

Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,023
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#967 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)

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Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock

#24. Elizabeth

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,134
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,735 (#15 most common name)

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

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#23. Denise

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1,126 most common name)

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

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#22. Brenda

Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,345
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#1,162 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)

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FreelySky // Shutterstock

#21. Christine

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#1,180 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#20. Margaret

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,670
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#94 most common name)

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

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Bodler // Shutterstock

#19. Cheryl

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#94 most common name)

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

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Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock

#18. Janet

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,338
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#1,825 most common name)

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

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CroMary // Shutterstock

#17. Sharon

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,340
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#1,475 most common name)

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

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George Rudy // Shutterstock

#16. Sandra

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,862
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#983 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#15. Carol

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,984
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,983 most common name)

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

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#14. Diane

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,202
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#2,098 most common name)

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

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photoDiod // Shutterstock

#13. Donna

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,874 most common name)

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

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Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

#12. Cynthia

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,313
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 156 (#670 most common name)

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

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Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock

#11. Pamela

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#2,510 most common name)

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

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#10. Kathleen

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,258
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#949 most common name)

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

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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#9. Nancy

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,364
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#1,210 most common name)

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

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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#8. Barbara

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,894
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#1,082 most common name)

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

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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#7. Karen

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,589
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 117 (#846 most common name)

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

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#6. Debra

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,525
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 117 (#846 most common name)

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

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Rob Marmion // Shutterstock

#5. Deborah

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#1,402 most common name)

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

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Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock

#4. Patricia

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 26,197
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#3. Susan

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 28,179
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#1,268 most common name)

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

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#2. Linda

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 31,452
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name)

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

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#1. Mary

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,075
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 721 (#148 most common name)

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

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