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 New Jersey 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. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,274 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Theresa
Theresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "late summer".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,583
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#989 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 89,593 (#39 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Joanne
Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,876
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#1,343 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,507 (#81 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Catherine
Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 345 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)
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5 / 30Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
6 / 30#25. Cheryl
Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,215
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 345 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,744 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Christine
Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Joan
Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,416
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,040 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,650
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,072 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Judith
Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,715
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#885 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,136
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,274 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Denise
Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,419
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#1,288 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,906
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 433 (#188 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,554 (#38 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,125
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#924 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,893
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#784 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,087
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,597 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,757
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,875 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,827
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,875 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#1,137 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,957 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,829
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 135 (#552 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#761 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,618
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#585 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,799
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#1,264 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,140
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#266 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,467
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 62 (#976 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".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,156
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,735
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1,063 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
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