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.
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
1 / 30Sarah 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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
2 / 30Teresa 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)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
3 / 30Joyce 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)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
4 / 30Martha 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)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
5 / 30Judy 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)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
6 / 30Dorothy 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)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
7 / 30Karen 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)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
8 / 30Janice 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)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 30Pamela 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)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
10 / 30Sharon 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)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
11 / 30Margaret 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)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
12 / 30Wanda 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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Gloria 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)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
14 / 30Elizabeth 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)
New Africa // Shutterstock
15 / 30Kathy 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)
Matva // Shutterstock
16 / 30Nancy 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)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
17 / 30Donna 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)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
18 / 30Carolyn 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)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
19 / 30Shirley 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)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
20 / 30Susan 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)
CroMary // Shutterstock
21 / 30Sandra 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)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
22 / 30Cynthia 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)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
23 / 30Betty 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)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
24 / 30Debra 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)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
25 / 30Brenda 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)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
26 / 30Barbara 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)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
27 / 30Deborah 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)
Mcimage // Shutterstock
28 / 30Patricia 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)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda 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)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary 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)
