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 Maryland 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 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,894
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 796 (#7 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
2 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,033
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#987 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,007 (#50 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 30Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,059
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 261 (#213 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
4 / 30Darlene is a name of English origin meaning "little dear one".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,109
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 261 (#213 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 61,875 (#71 most common name)
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5 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,111
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#1,044 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 30Robin is a name of German origin meaning "fame-bright".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,335
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,061 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,407 (#53 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,412
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#732 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
8 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,415
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,163 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
9 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,553
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,504 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
10 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,684
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,504 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
11 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,806
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#1,139 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
12 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,965
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 455 (#110 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
13 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,840 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
14 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,210
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#987 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
15 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,440
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#987 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
16 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,524
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#987 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,619
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,113 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
18 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,904
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#881 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
19 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,942
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#881 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
20 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,091
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#849 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
21 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#780 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
22 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,058
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#780 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
23 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,733
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#522 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
photoDiod // Shutterstock
24 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,909
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#893 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
25 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,489
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#893 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
26 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,616
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,061 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,525
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#1,028 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
28 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,947
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#798 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
29 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#526 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Maryland
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,753
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 362 (#146 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
