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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1 / 30#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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2 / 30#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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3 / 30#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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4 / 30#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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5 / 30#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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6 / 30#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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7 / 30#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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8 / 30#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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9 / 30#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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10 / 30#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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11 / 30#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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12 / 30#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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13 / 30#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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14 / 30#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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15 / 30pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
16 / 30#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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17 / 30#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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18 / 30#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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19 / 30#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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20 / 30#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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21 / 30#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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22 / 30#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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23 / 30#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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24 / 30#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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25 / 30#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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26 / 30#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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27 / 30#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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28 / 30#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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29 / 30#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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30 / 30#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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