Most popular girl names in the 50s in South Carolina

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June 4, 2026
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Most popular girl names in the 50s in South Carolina

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 South Carolina 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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#30. Sarah

Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,964
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 526 (#68 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,916 (#98 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#29. Teresa

Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,265
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#28. Joyce

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,465
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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#27. Martha

Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#775 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#47 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#26. Judy

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#775 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)

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Oleggg // Shutterstock

#25. Dorothy

Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,627
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#503 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 74,470 (#56 most common name)

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#24. Karen

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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#23. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,723
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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#22. Pamela

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,767
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#21. Sharon

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,792
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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#20. Margaret

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,823
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#59 most common name)

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

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#19. Wanda

Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,835
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#59 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#57 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Gloria

Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,900
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#750 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,696 (#41 most common name)

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#17. Elizabeth

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,498 (#8 most common name)

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

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#16. Kathy

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,093
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,498 (#8 most common name)

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

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#15. Nancy

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#908 most common name)

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

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#14. Donna

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,291
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#908 most common name)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#13. Carolyn

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,719
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#716 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)

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#12. Shirley

Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#716 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#11. Susan

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,172
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#979 most common name)

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

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#10. Sandra

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#963 most common name)

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

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#9. Cynthia

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,257
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#850 most common name)

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

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#8. Betty

Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,257 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#7. Debra

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,561
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,257 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#6. Brenda

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,396 most common name)

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

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Impact Photography // Shutterstock

#5. Barbara

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,091
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,162 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#4. Deborah

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,563 most common name)

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

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#3. Patricia

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,126
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,328 most common name)

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

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#2. Linda

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,057 most common name)

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

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#1. Mary

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 716 (#37 most common name)

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

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