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 Washington, D.C. 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 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 954
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#677 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
2 / 30Jacqueline is a name of French origin meaning "may God protect".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,001
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 60,445 (#71 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 30Robin is a name of German origin meaning "fame-bright".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,019
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,407 (#52 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 30Sheila is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "heavenly".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 70,167 (#61 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 30Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,078
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)
Mcimage // Shutterstock
6 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,186
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
7 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,200
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
8 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
9 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,275
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
10 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,495
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
11 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,504
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
12 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,511
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
13 / 30Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,541
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
14 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,620
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
15 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,632
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
16 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,655
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
17 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,746
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
18 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,769
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,783
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
20 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,838
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
21 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
22 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,089
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
23 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,482
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
24 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,736
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,826
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
26 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
27 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
28 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,098
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
29 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,203
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#457 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,870
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
