Most popular girl names in the 50s in Massachusetts

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

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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#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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#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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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#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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Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

#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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Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock

#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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Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

#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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#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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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#21. Ann

Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,553
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#828 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 87,044 (#41 most common name)

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock

#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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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#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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#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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#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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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#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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#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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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#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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Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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