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 Minnesota 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.
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
1 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,618
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,687 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
2 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,644
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#929 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 87,044 (#41 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
3 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,652
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,280 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
4 / 30Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,280 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 55,904 (#79 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
5 / 30Lynn is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "waterfall".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,658
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,280 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,035 (#67 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 30Kathryn is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,762
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 121 (#448 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 77,803 (#57 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
7 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,908
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,327 (#18 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
8 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,055
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 261 (#216 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,908 (#51 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,089
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 261 (#216 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
10 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 605 (#77 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
11 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,235
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 605 (#77 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,257 (#60 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
12 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,334
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 605 (#77 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
13 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,087
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 605 (#77 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
14 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,741
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 605 (#77 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
15 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,086
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 605 (#77 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
16 / 30Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,241
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#791 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#43 most common name)
photoDiod // Shutterstock
17 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,576
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#791 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
18 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,627
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#1,121 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
19 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,076
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#1,002 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
20 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,082
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#909 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
21 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,501
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#909 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
22 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,648
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,064 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
23 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,811
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#842 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
24 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,428
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#946 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
25 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#1,229 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
26 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,630
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,247 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,194
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,247 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
28 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,007
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#791 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
29 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,129
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#887 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Minnesota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,432
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 322 (#178 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
