Most popular girl names in the 50s in New York

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

Most popular girl names in the 50s in New York

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 York 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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Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

#30. Laura

Laura is a name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel plant".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,645
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 476 (#384 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 95,527 (#38 most common name)

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#29. Ellen

Ellen is a name of French origin meaning brilliant.

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,669
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#935 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 55,368 (#80 most common name)

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#28. Theresa

Theresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "late summer".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,884
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 144 (#1,043 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 89,593 (#39 most common name)

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CroMary // Shutterstock

#27. Joanne

Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,003
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#1,816 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,507 (#82 most common name)

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#26. Judith

Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,224
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 190 (#834 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)

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Rob Marmion // Shutterstock

#25. Cheryl

Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#2,839 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#24. Joan

Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#1,422 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 85,170 (#45 most common name)

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#23. Catherine

Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,478
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 799 (#216 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,837 (#32 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#22. Pamela

Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#1,400 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#21. Janet

Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,451
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#1,502 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)

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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#20. Christine

Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,095
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 209 (#770 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 113,340 (#31 most common name)

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Aaron Amat // Shutterstock

#19. Denise

Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,926
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 115 (#1,223 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#18. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#1,058 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)

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#17. Cynthia

Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,756
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 279 (#611 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)

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javi_indy // Shutterstock

#16. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,765
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#777 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)

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Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock

#15. Margaret

Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,917
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,031 (#163 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,510
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,789 (#25 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#13. Debra

Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,441
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#2,023 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)

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#12. Carol

Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,320
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#1,816 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#11. Diane

Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,295
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,833 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)

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#10. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,986
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#1,849 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#9. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 28,868
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 193 (#827 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)

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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#8. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 178 (#873 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)

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#7. Karen

Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 298 (#578 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)

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#6. Deborah

Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,064
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 265 (#630 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)

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#5. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,159
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 200 (#798 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)

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#4. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 43,924
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#742 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)

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#3. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 45,896
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 161 (#950 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#2. Susan

Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 47,760
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#847 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)

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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#1. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".

New York
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 50,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#212 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)

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