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 North Dakota 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 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 522
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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2 / 30Vicki is a name of English origin meaning victory.
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 71,971 (#59 most common name)
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3 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 538
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
4 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 543
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
5 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#282 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,908 (#50 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
6 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 600
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
7 / 30Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 631
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,289 (#46 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
8 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 638
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
9 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 684
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,007 (#49 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
10 / 30Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#39 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
11 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 762
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
12 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 775
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 30Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#42 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
15 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 955
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
16 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,064
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,124
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
18 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,150
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
19 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,175
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
20 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,274
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
21 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,300
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
22 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,302
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
23 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,304
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
24 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,388
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
25 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,394
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
26 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,548
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
27 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
28 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,894
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Matva // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,030
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,592
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#160 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
