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 Kentucky 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.
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
1 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#142 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 97,785 (#36 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
2 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,677
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#142 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
Mcimage // Shutterstock
3 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#598 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
4 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,890
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
6 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,941
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
7 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,037
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 185 (#245 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
8 / 30Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,099
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 185 (#245 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
9 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,113
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
10 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
11 / 30Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,553
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#40 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
12 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,766
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
13 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,895
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
14 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,934
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
15 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#679 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
16 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,463
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#985 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
17 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,449 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
18 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,011
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,449 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,128
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#910 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
20 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,412
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,449 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
21 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,493
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#846 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
22 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#846 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,016
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,207
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
25 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,787
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
26 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#952 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,012 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
28 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,446
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,646
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#635 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,295
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 530 (#68 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
