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 Wisconsin 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 / 30#30. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,309 (#17 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Bonnie
Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,157
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#767 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,007 (#50 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Joan
Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Ann
Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,431
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 87,044 (#41 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,467
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,585
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 560 (#81 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Lynn
Lynn is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "waterfall".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,612
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 560 (#81 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,035 (#67 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Jane
Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,300
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 162 (#332 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,908 (#51 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Judith
Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,385
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#898 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Jean
Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,495
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#898 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,257 (#60 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Julie
Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,840
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#866 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#43 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Christine
Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,001
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,127 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,181
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#972 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,267
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#972 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Cheryl
Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,403
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#972 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,824
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#972 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,592
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#674 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,344
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,495
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,617
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#767 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#842 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,051
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#881 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,279
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 45 (#806 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,361
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,021 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,311
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,021 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,665
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#702 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,476
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#739 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
30 / 30#1. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,063
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 351 (#151 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)