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 New Hampshire 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 / 30Robin is a name of German origin meaning "fame-bright".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 391
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#1,277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,407 (#51 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
2 / 30Elaine is a name of French origin meaning shining light.
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 427
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#1,277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,210 (#72 most common name)
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3 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#1,277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
4 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#1,277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,007 (#48 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
5 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 468
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#298 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,908 (#49 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
6 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#298 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 87,044 (#40 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
7 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 498
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
8 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 529
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,615 (#43 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
9 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 552
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
10 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 607
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#33 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
11 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 677
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 696
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
13 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 717
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
14 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
15 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 802
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
16 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 842
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
17 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 867
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
18 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 868
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
19 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 918
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
20 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 950
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
21 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,089
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
22 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,099
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
23 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,262
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
24 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,288
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
25 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,296
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,363
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
27 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,370
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
28 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,027
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
30 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,110
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
