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 Kentucky 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. Beverly
Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#142 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 97,785 (#36 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Shirley
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,677
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#142 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#598 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,890
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,941
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,037
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 185 (#245 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Wanda
Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,099
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 185 (#245 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,113
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Connie
Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,553
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#40 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,766
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Teresa
Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,895
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,934
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
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15 / 30Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,463
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#985 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,449 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,011
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,449 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,128
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#910 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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20 / 30pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,493
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#846 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#846 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,016
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,207
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,787
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#952 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,012 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,446
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,646
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#635 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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