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 Montana 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 / 30Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 465
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#212 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,289 (#46 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
2 / 30Debbie is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 483
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#212 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,044 (#53 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
3 / 30Vicki is a name of English origin meaning victory.
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 506
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#212 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 71,971 (#60 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
4 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#402 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,007 (#49 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
5 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 545
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#402 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Matva // Shutterstock
6 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 571
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#402 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
7 / 30Cindy is a name of Greek origin meaning "woman from Mount Kynthos".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 588
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#402 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,929 (#47 most common name)
Nina Buday // Shutterstock
8 / 30Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 613
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#402 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#39 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
9 / 30Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 628
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#402 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#42 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
10 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 629
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#402 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
11 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 657
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 727
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
13 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 728
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
14 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 736
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
15 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 745
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
16 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
17 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
18 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 876
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,032
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
20 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,034
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
21 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,073
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
22 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,073
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
23 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
24 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,291
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
25 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,397
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
26 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,399
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#421 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
27 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,621
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#421 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
28 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#421 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,202
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#421 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Montana
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#129 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
