Most popular girl names in the 50s in New Jersey

Written by:
June 4, 2026
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 50s in New Jersey

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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Darren Brode // Shutterstock

#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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#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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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#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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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#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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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#26. Gail

Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 345 (#228 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,615 (#44 most common name)

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Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock

#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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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock

#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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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#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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Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

#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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Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock

#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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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#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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Mcimage // Shutterstock

#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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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#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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photoDiod // Shutterstock

#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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Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock

#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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Studio Romantic // Shutterstock

#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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#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)

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#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)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#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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DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#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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Blend Images // Shutterstock

#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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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#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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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#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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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#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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George Rudy // Shutterstock

#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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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#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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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#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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Haywiremedia // Shutterstock

#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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Bodler // Shutterstock

#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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