Most popular girl names in the 50s in California

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

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鈥攁nd you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.

compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 50s in California using data from the . Names are ranked by number of babies born.

Keep reading to see if your name made the list.

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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#30. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,012
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 284 (#1,041 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)

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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#29. Catherine

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,413
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,543 (#234 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#28. Kathy

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,798
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 227 (#1,220 most common name)

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

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Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

#27. Margaret

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,901
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,223 (#306 most common name)

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

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#26. Teresa

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 609 (#589 most common name)

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

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Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

#25. Christine

Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,168
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 425 (#772 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#24. Julie

Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,332
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 836 (#443 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#43 most common name)

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Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock

#23. Laura

Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,771
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 929 (#397 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,527 (#38 most common name)

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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock

#22. Lisa

Lisa is a name of English origin meaning "God's promise".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,286
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 508 (#687 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,773 (#37 most common name)

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javi_indy // Shutterstock

#21. Denise

Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,754
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 457 (#735 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)

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Mcimage // Shutterstock

#20. Elizabeth

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,547
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8,107 (#23 most common name)

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

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ucchie79 // Shutterstock

#19. Janet

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 262 (#1,107 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Cheryl

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,033
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#2,613 most common name)

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

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#17. Diane

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,203
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 141 (#1,679 most common name)

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

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#16. Donna

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,972
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 254 (#1,136 most common name)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#15. Sharon

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 304 (#988 most common name)

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

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#14. Carol

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,564
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 152 (#1,602 most common name)

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

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#13. Sandra

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 464 (#727 most common name)

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

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Blend Images // Shutterstock

#12. Pamela

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,135
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#1,396 most common name)

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

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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#11. Barbara

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,577
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 392 (#819 most common name)

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

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Surne1shots // Shutterstock

#10. Nancy

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,604
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 476 (#716 most common name)

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

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#9. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,822
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 284 (#1,041 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)

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Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

#8. Cynthia

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,445
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 757 (#494 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#7. Karen

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 27,276
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 761 (#491 most common name)

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

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#6. Debra

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 27,532
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#4,899 most common name)

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

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#5. Deborah

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,371
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 310 (#972 most common name)

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

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Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock

#4. Patricia

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 30,445
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 362 (#874 most common name)

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

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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#3. Mary

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 33,482
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,247 (#303 most common name)

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

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#2. Susan

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 35,647
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 202 (#1,317 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#1. Linda

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 40,850
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 589 (#606 most common name)

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

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