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 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.
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
1 / 30Debbie is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,926
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 322 (#178 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,044 (#54 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
2 / 30Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,949
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 322 (#178 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 55,904 (#79 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
3 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,955
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 505 (#128 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
4 / 30Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,999
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 257 (#282 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,950 (#13 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
6 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,631 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
7 / 30Cindy is a name of Greek origin meaning "woman from Mount Kynthos".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,169
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,589 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,929 (#48 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
8 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,172
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#848 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)
photoDiod // Shutterstock
9 / 30Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,477
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8 (#1,813 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
10 / 30Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,771
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#873 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
11 / 30Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 105 (#629 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#43 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
12 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,831
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,693 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,006
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,533 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
14 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,095
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
15 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,238
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
16 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,537
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,187 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
17 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,735
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,187 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
18 / 30Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,781
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 92 (#690 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
19 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,800
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#991 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
20 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#991 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,324
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#962 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
22 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,452
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
23 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,759
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,693 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock
24 / 30Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,162
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 62 (#883 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
25 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,897
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#848 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
26 / 30Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,938
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#848 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,968
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#1,016 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
28 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,358
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 365 (#195 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,072
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,377 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
30 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,480
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#938 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
