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 Washington, D.C. 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. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 954
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#677 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Jacqueline
Jacqueline is a name of French origin meaning "may God protect".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,001
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 60,445 (#71 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Robin
Robin is a name of German origin meaning "fame-bright".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,019
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,407 (#52 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Sheila
Sheila is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "heavenly".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#338 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 70,167 (#61 most common name)
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5 / 30Mcimage // Shutterstock
6 / 30#25. Cheryl
Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,186
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,200
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,275
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,495
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,504
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,511
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Denise
Denise is a name of Greek origin meaning "to be devoted to Bacchus".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,541
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 123,774 (#26 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,620
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,632
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,655
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,746
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,769
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,783
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,838
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,089
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,482
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,736
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
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25 / 30Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,098
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,203
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#457 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
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