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 North Carolina 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. Gloria
Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,946
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 144 (#644 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,696 (#42 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,052
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 870 (#108 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 384 (#275 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Martha
Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,120
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#762 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#49 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#2,064 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,831
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,502 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,857
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,198 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,148
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,069 (#10 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Shirley
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,325
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#1,551 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,421
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,839 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,848
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 102 (#851 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,877
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1,040 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,280
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#1,341 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Wanda
Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,318
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#1,341 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)
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15 / 30Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,578
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 64 (#1,151 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,847
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#1,690 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,862
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,502 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,231
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#797 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,404
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,741 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,965
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 129 (#708 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,012
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 129 (#708 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,181
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#1,161 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,364
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#1,210 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,570
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#1,574 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,303
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#1,131 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,438
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#1,032 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,638
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 96 (#882 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 92 (#905 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,906
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,034 (#86 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
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