Most popular girl names in the 50s in Pennsylvania

Written by:
June 4, 2026
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Most popular girl names in the 50s in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania 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".

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,167
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,814 most common name)

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

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CroMary // Shutterstock

#29. Catherine

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,370
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 511 (#231 most common name)

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

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Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock

#28. Joyce

Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,590
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#932 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#27. Joan

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,209 most common name)

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

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#26. Brenda

Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,820
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#1,474 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)

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Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock

#25. Christine

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,241
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 83 (#992 most common name)

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

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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#24. Kathy

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,367
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,658 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)

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Surne1shots // Shutterstock

#23. Judith

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#1,049 most common name)

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

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Nina Buday // Shutterstock

#22. Elizabeth

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,835 (#16 most common name)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#21. Janet

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#2,038 most common name)

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

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#20. Pamela

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,898
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#1,931 most common name)

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

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#19. Denise

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,026
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#2,092 most common name)

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

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George Rudy // Shutterstock

#18. Cheryl

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,340
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#2,092 most common name)

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

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#17. Margaret

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,339
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 970 (#100 most common name)

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

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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#16. Sandra

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,897
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#1,521 most common name)

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

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#15. Sharon

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,531
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#966 most common name)

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

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#14. Cynthia

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,051
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#856 most common name)

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

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javi_indy // Shutterstock

#13. Carol

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,317
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,451 most common name)

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

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photoDiod // Shutterstock

#12. Diane

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,330
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#1,931 most common name)

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

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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#11. Nancy

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,303
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#436 most common name)

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

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#10. Debra

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,585
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#436 most common name)

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

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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#9. Kathleen

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,229
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 163 (#645 most common name)

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

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Oleggg // Shutterstock

#8. Donna

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,378
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,724 most common name)

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

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#7. Barbara

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,306
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#370 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#6. Karen

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,511
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#759 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#5. Deborah

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 30,613
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#911 most common name)

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

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#4. Patricia

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 32,573
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#1,098 most common name)

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

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Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock

#3. Susan

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 32,669
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 277 (#394 most common name)

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

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Aaron Amat // Shutterstock

#2. Linda

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,627
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 342 (#334 most common name)

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

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Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock

#1. Mary

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 40,066
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)

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

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