Most popular girl names in the 50s in Iowa

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

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 Iowa 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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#30. Janice

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 most common name)

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

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#29. Jean

Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,097
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,257 (#60 most common name)

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#28. Peggy

Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,129
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,289 (#47 most common name)

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#27. Denise

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,133
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 most common name)

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

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#26. Cindy

Cindy is a name of Greek origin meaning "woman from Mount Kynthos".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,251
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,929 (#48 most common name)

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#25. Teresa

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,297
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#895 most common name)

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

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#24. Jane

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,735
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#352 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,908 (#51 most common name)

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#23. Cheryl

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,772
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#352 most common name)

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

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#22. Sharon

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,910
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,015 most common name)

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

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#21. Donna

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,073
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,015 most common name)

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

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#20. Connie

Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,124
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,015 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#40 most common name)

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#19. Kathy

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,167
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,015 most common name)

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

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#18. Rebecca

Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 116 (#289 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)

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#17. Janet

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,224
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 116 (#289 most common name)

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

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#16. Kathleen

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#835 most common name)

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

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#15. Carol

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,039
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#835 most common name)

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

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#14. Julie

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#771 most common name)

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

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#13. Sandra

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#771 most common name)

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

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#12. Diane

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,474
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#771 most common name)

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

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#11. Pamela

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#771 most common name)

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

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#10. Deborah

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,824
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#849 most common name)

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

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#9. Karen

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,018
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#689 most common name)

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

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#8. Cynthia

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,067
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#745 most common name)

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

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#7. Nancy

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,635
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#756 most common name)

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

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#6. Barbara

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,839
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,179 most common name)

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

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#5. Patricia

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,019
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,179 most common name)

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

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#4. Debra

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,960
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,179 most common name)

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

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#3. Susan

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,988
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,179 most common name)

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

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#2. Linda

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,951
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#725 most common name)

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

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#1. Mary

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,250
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#139 most common name)

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

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