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 Dakota 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. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 522
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Vicki
Vicki is a name of English origin meaning victory.
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 71,971 (#59 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 538
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 543
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Jane
Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#282 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,908 (#50 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 600
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Peggy
Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 631
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,289 (#46 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 638
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Bonnie
Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 684
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,007 (#49 most common name)
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10 / 30Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
11 / 30#20. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 762
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 775
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Julie
Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#42 most common name)
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15 / 30Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,064
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,124
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,150
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,175
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,274
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,300
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,302
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,304
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,388
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,394
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,548
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,894
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 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".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,030
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 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 Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,592
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#160 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
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