Most popular girl names in the 50s in Rhode Island

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June 4, 2026
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Most popular girl names in the 50s in Rhode Island

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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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#30. Joyce

Joyce 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)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#29. Janet

Janet 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)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#28. Janice

Janice 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)

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Bodler // Shutterstock

#27. Joan

Joan 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)

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Oleggg // Shutterstock

#26. Judith

Judith 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)

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Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

#25. Pamela

Pamela 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)

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#24. Margaret

Margaret 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)

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#23. Christine

Christine 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)

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Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock

#22. Paula

Paula 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)

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Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock

#21. Ann

Ann 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)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#20. Sharon

Sharon 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)

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Impact Photography // Shutterstock

#19. Gail

Gail 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)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#18. Sandra

Sandra 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)

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#17. Elizabeth

Elizabeth 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)

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Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock

#16. Cynthia

Cynthia 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)

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#15. Denise

Denise 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)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Cheryl

Cheryl 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)

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#13. Carol

Carol 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)

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Blend Images // Shutterstock

#12. Barbara

Barbara 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)

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#11. Debra

Debra 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)

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#10. Nancy

Nancy 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)

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Durganand // Shutterstock

#9. Diane

Diane 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)

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#8. Kathleen

Kathleen 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)

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#7. Karen

Karen 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)

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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#6. Mary

Mary 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)

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#5. Donna

Donna 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)

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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#4. Patricia

Patricia 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)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#3. Deborah

Deborah 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)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#2. Linda

Linda 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)

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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#1. Susan

Susan 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)

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