Most popular girl names in the 50s in New Jersey

Written by:
June 4, 2026
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 50s in New Jersey

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 Jersey 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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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#30. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,274 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#29. Theresa

Theresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "late summer".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,583
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#989 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 89,593 (#39 most common name)

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#28. Joanne

Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,876
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#1,343 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,507 (#81 most common name)

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#27. Catherine

Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 345 (#228 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)

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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#26. Gail

Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 345 (#228 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,615 (#44 most common name)

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Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock

#25. Cheryl

Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,215
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 345 (#228 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)

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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock

#24. Pamela

Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,744 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#23. Christine

Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)

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Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

#22. Joan

Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,416
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,040 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)

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Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock

#21. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,650
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,072 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#20. Judith

Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,715
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#885 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)

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Mcimage // Shutterstock

#19. Janet

Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,274 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#18. Denise

Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,419
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#1,288 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)

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photoDiod // Shutterstock

#17. Margaret

Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,906
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 433 (#188 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)

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Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock

#16. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,554 (#38 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)

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Studio Romantic // Shutterstock

#15. Cynthia

Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,125
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#924 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,893
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#784 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#13. Debra

Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,087
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,597 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#12. Carol

Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,757
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,875 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#11. Diane

Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,827
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,875 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)

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DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#10. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#1,137 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)

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Blend Images // Shutterstock

#9. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,957 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#8. Karen

Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,829
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 135 (#552 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)

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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#7. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#761 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#6. Deborah

Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,618
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#585 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)

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George Rudy // Shutterstock

#5. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,799
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#1,264 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)

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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#4. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,140
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#266 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#3. Susan

Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,467
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 62 (#976 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)

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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#2. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,156
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)

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Bodler // Shutterstock

#1. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,735
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1,063 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)

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