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 Louisiana 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.
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,567
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#684 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 97,785 (#36 most common name)
Mcimage // Shutterstock
2 / 30Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,582
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#684 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,289 (#47 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
3 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,584
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8 (#1,439 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
4 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8 (#1,439 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
5 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,633
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8 (#1,439 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,732
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#952 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,696 (#42 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
7 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,795
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#952 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
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8 / 30Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,934
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#952 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
9 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,166
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,548 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
10 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,174
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,548 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
11 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,242
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,548 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
12 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,388 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
13 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,108 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
14 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,567
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,108 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
15 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,758
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,108 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
16 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,381
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,012 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
17 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,607
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,012 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
18 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,726
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#901 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,870
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#901 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
20 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,969
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,327 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
21 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,327 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
22 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,515
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
23 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,295
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,181 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
24 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,679
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,181 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
25 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,169
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,181 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
26 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,189
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
27 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,257
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,943
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,222 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,989
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 568 (#60 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
