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 York 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 / 30Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,645
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 476 (#384 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,527 (#38 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
2 / 30Ellen is a name of French origin meaning brilliant.
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,669
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#935 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 55,368 (#80 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
3 / 30Theresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "late summer".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,884
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 144 (#1,043 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 89,593 (#39 most common name)
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4 / 30Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,003
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#1,816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,507 (#82 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
5 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,224
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 190 (#834 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)
Rob Marmion // Shutterstock
6 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#2,839 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
7 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#1,422 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
8 / 30Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,478
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 799 (#216 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#1,400 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,451
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#1,502 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
11 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,095
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 209 (#770 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
12 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,926
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 115 (#1,223 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
13 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
14 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,756
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 279 (#611 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
15 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,765
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#777 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
16 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,917
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,031 (#163 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,510
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,789 (#25 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
18 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,441
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#2,023 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,320
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#1,816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
20 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,295
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,833 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
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21 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,986
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#1,849 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 28,868
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 193 (#827 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
23 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 178 (#873 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
24 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 298 (#578 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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25 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,064
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 265 (#630 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
26 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,159
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 200 (#798 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
27 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 43,924
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#742 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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28 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 45,896
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 161 (#950 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
29 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 47,760
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#847 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 50,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#212 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
