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 Virginia 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. Cheryl
Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,828
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,353 (#8 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,213
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,343 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,234
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 342 (#244 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,317
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,799 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,568
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,799 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,581
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,111 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,581
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 876 (#86 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Shirley
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,596
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#1,659 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Wanda
Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,709
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#1,659 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#59 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Teresa
Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,759
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 113 (#654 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,111
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,569 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,032 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,189
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,032 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,388
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,641 (#10 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,691 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,266
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#916 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,643
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#885 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,999
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#743 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,080
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 79 (#849 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,477
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#885 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#885 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1,020 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,583
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1,020 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,535
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#967 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,085
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#1,290 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".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,010
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#1,150 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".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,208
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#931 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".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,135
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 90 (#774 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 762 (#98 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,476
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#804 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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