Most popular girl names in the 50s in Tennessee

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

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 Tennessee 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. Beverly

Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,077
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,691 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 97,785 (#36 most common name)

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#29. Carol

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,081
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,226 most common name)

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

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#28. Connie

Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,119
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,226 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#40 most common name)

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Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock

#27. Martha

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,240
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#683 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#49 most common name)

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#26. Joyce

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,329
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#1,158 most common name)

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

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#25. Elizabeth

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,363
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,295 (#9 most common name)

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

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#24. Rebecca

Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,461
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 228 (#331 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)

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#23. Wanda

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,918
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 228 (#331 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)

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#22. Cynthia

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,072
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 79 (#792 most common name)

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

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#21. Shirley

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,110
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,755 most common name)

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

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#20. Betty

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#1,500 most common name)

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

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#19. Nancy

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,636
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 64 (#891 most common name)

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

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Surne1shots // Shutterstock

#18. Janice

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,666
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,226 most common name)

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

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#17. Karen

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,841
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#778 most common name)

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

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Bodler // Shutterstock

#16. Susan

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,151
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#1,315 most common name)

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

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#15. Teresa

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,328
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#1,012 most common name)

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

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#14. Carolyn

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,353
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 82 (#772 most common name)

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

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#13. Judy

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,565
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,824 most common name)

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

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#12. Sharon

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,605
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#1,158 most common name)

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

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#11. Debra

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,871
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#1,158 most common name)

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

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#10. Pamela

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,983
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#1,158 most common name)

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

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#9. Kathy

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,985
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,904 most common name)

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

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#8. Donna

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,599
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,226 most common name)

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

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#7. Barbara

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,650
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,381 most common name)

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

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#6. Sandra

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,731
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#1,220 most common name)

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

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#5. Brenda

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,746
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#1,294 most common name)

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

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#4. Patricia

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,455
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#899 most common name)

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

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#3. Deborah

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,070
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#930 most common name)

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

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#2. Linda

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,919
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#899 most common name)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#1. Mary

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,975
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,063 (#46 most common name)

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

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