Most popular girl names in the 50s in Virginia

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June 4, 2026
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 50s in Virginia

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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Darkdiamond67 // Shutterstock

#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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Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#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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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#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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Studio Romantic // Shutterstock

#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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#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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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#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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Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock

#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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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#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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photoDiod // Shutterstock

#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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riggleton // Shutterstock

#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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#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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Blend Images // Shutterstock

#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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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#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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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#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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Nina Buday // Shutterstock

#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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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#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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Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#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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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#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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#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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#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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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#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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George Rudy // Shutterstock

#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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Bodler // Shutterstock

#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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Aaron Amat // Shutterstock

#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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#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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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#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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Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

#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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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#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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#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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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock

#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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