Most popular girl names in the 50s in Virginia

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

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 Virginia 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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Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock

#30. Cheryl

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,828
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,353 (#8 most common name)

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

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#29. Diane

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,213
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,343 most common name)

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

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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#28. Rebecca

Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,234
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 342 (#244 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)

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Studio Romantic // Shutterstock

#27. Judy

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,317
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,799 most common name)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#26. Janet

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,568
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,799 most common name)

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

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#25. Carol

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,581
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,111 most common name)

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

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Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock

#24. Margaret

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,581
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 876 (#86 most common name)

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

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#23. Shirley

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,596
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#1,659 most common name)

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

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photoDiod // Shutterstock

#22. Wanda

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,709
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#1,659 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)

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#21. Teresa

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,759
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 113 (#654 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Betty

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,111
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,569 most common name)

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

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Blend Images // Shutterstock

#19. Joyce

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,032 most common name)

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

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#18. Kathy

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,189
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,032 most common name)

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

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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#17. Elizabeth

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,388
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,641 (#10 most common name)

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

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Nina Buday // Shutterstock

#16. Pamela

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,691 most common name)

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

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#15. Carolyn

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,266
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#916 most common name)

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

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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#14. Nancy

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,643
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#885 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#13. Karen

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,999
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#743 most common name)

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

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#12. Cynthia

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,080
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 79 (#849 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#11. Sandra

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,477
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#885 most common name)

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

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#10. Donna

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#885 most common name)

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

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#9. Sharon

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1,020 most common name)

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

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Bodler // Shutterstock

#8. Debra

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,583
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1,020 most common name)

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

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#7. Susan

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,535
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#967 most common name)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#6. Barbara

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,085
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#1,290 most common name)

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

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#5. Brenda

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,010
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#1,150 most common name)

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

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Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

#4. Patricia

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,208
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#931 most common name)

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

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#3. Deborah

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,135
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 90 (#774 most common name)

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

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#2. Mary

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 762 (#98 most common name)

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

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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock

#1. Linda

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,476
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#804 most common name)

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

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