Most popular girl names in the 50s in Illinois

Written by:
June 4, 2026
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 50s in Illinois

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 Illinois 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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Impact Photography // Shutterstock

#30. Joyce

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,035
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#1,089 most common name)

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

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Matva // Shutterstock

#29. Catherine

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,954
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 448 (#256 most common name)

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

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#28. Laura

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,999
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 285 (#396 most common name)

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

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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#27. Janice

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,963
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#1,583 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#26. Kathy

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,997
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#1,583 most common name)

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

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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#25. Judith

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,023
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#967 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)

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Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock

#24. Elizabeth

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,134
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,735 (#15 most common name)

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

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#23. Denise

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1,126 most common name)

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

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#22. Brenda

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,345
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 71 (#1,162 most common name)

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

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FreelySky // Shutterstock

#21. Christine

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#1,180 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#20. Margaret

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,670
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#94 most common name)

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

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Bodler // Shutterstock

#19. Cheryl

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#94 most common name)

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

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Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock

#18. Janet

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,338
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#1,825 most common name)

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

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CroMary // Shutterstock

#17. Sharon

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,340
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#1,475 most common name)

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

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George Rudy // Shutterstock

#16. Sandra

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,862
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#983 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#15. Carol

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,984
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,983 most common name)

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

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#14. Diane

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,202
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#2,098 most common name)

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

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photoDiod // Shutterstock

#13. Donna

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,874 most common name)

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

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Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

#12. Cynthia

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,313
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 156 (#670 most common name)

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

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Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock

#11. Pamela

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#2,510 most common name)

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

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#10. Kathleen

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,258
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#949 most common name)

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

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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#9. Nancy

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,364
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#1,210 most common name)

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

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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#8. Barbara

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,894
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#1,082 most common name)

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

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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#7. Karen

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,589
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 117 (#846 most common name)

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

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#6. Debra

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,525
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 117 (#846 most common name)

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

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Rob Marmion // Shutterstock

#5. Deborah

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#1,402 most common name)

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

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Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock

#4. Patricia

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 26,197
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#3. Susan

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 28,179
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#1,268 most common name)

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

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#2. Linda

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 31,452
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#879 most common name)

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

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#1. Mary

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,075
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 721 (#148 most common name)

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

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