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 Rhode Island 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 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 703
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
2 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 706
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
3 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 722
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
4 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 742
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#42 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
5 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 816
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#33 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
6 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 832
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
7 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 834
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
8 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 880
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#30 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
9 / 30Paula is a name of Latin origin meaning "small".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 885
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,865 (#43 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
10 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 902
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 87,044 (#38 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
11 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,001
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
12 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,030
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,615 (#41 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
13 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,077
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
14 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,213
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
15 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,225
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
16 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,280
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,408
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,503
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,628
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
20 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,673
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
21 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
22 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
23 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,055
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Matva // Shutterstock
24 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,068
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
25 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
26 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,739
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,877
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
28 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,939
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,105
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
30 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,118
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
