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 West 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. Judith
Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,606
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#938 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,753 (#34 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Beverly
Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,732
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#938 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 97,785 (#36 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Cheryl
Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,775
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#938 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,925
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,944
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#23 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Diana
Diana is a name of Roman origin meaning "goddess of the hunt".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,948
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 80,231 (#55 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,994
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Teresa
Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,056
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,149
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,154
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Connie
Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,321
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#40 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,348
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,712
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 115,691 (#28 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,180
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,185
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,303
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,844
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,885
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,990
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,010
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertiplain".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,153
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 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".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,258
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
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25 / 30Africa Studio // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,029
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 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".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,252
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 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".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,221
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#302 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".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,852
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#195 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".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,442
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#195 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
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