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 Missouri 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.
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
1 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,034 (#86 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
photoDiod // Shutterstock
2 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,135
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#835 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
3 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,153
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,643 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,179
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 632 (#81 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
5 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,273
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 208 (#303 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
6 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,450
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#752 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
7 / 30Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,546
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#752 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#40 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
8 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,701
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,207 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
9 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,775
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,207 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
10 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,189
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,207 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
11 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,298
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,207 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
12 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,434
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,207 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
13 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,662
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#943 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
14 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,632
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#943 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
15 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,085
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#908 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
16 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,115
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#908 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
17 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,185
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,249 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
18 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,685
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,865 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,000
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#989 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
20 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,081
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#989 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
21 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#1,134 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
22 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,810
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,460 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
23 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,327
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,460 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
24 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,443
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#723 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
25 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,908
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#865 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
26 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,976
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#1,060 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,617
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#933 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
28 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,210
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#989 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,442
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#827 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Missouri
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,853
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 604 (#86 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
