Most popular girl names in the 50s in South Carolina

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June 4, 2026
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Most popular girl names in the 50s in South Carolina

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 South 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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#30. Sarah

Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,964
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 526 (#68 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,916 (#98 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#29. Teresa

Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,265
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#28. Joyce

Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,465
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#27. Martha

Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#775 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#47 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#26. Judy

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#775 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)

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Oleggg // Shutterstock

#25. Dorothy

Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,627
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#503 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 74,470 (#56 most common name)

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#24. Karen

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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#23. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,723
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)

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#22. Pamela

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,767
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#21. Sharon

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,792
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)

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

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Lopolo // Shutterstock

#20. Margaret

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,823
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#59 most common name)

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

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Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

#19. Wanda

Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,835
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#59 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#57 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Gloria

Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,900
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#750 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,696 (#41 most common name)

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#17. Elizabeth

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,498 (#8 most common name)

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

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New Africa // Shutterstock

#16. Kathy

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,093
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,498 (#8 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)

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#15. Nancy

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#908 most common name)

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

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#14. Donna

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,291
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#908 most common name)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#13. Carolyn

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,719
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#716 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)

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#12. Shirley

Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#716 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#11. Susan

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,172
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#979 most common name)

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

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#10. Sandra

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#963 most common name)

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

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#9. Cynthia

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,257
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#850 most common name)

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

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#8. Betty

Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,257 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#7. Debra

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,561
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,257 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#6. Brenda

Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,396 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)

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#5. Barbara

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,091
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,162 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#4. Deborah

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,563 most common name)

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

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#3. Patricia

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,126
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,328 most common name)

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

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#2. Linda

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,057 most common name)

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

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#1. Mary

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 716 (#37 most common name)

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

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