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 Massachusetts 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. Joan
Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Paula
Paula is a name of Latin origin meaning "small".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,819
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#995 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,865 (#46 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Maureen
Maureen is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "star of the sea".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#995 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 42,676 (#100 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Gail
Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,879
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#995 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,615 (#44 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,890
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,434 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Joanne
Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,893
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,507 (#81 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,041
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 686 (#81 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Denise
Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,286
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
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10 / 30Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
11 / 30#20. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,591
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#828 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Christine
Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,620
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 45 (#819 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Judith
Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,992
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#919 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,083
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#948 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,114
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,471 (#21 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Cheryl
Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,137
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,471 (#21 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,228
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,139
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,486
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,625
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,682
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#708 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,412
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,216 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,886
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#621 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,635
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#621 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,817
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 115 (#469 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".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,967
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#790 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,301
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#1,096 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,502
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 413 (#134 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,605
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
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