Most Popular Baby Names of the 50s

Life in the United States, during the 1950's, was new and exciting. Returning soldiers and their families left the city for the suburbs where kids played in front yards and neighbors enjoyed Sunday barbecues. Elvis and I Love Lucy kept everyone entertained, the first McDonald\'s opened, Dr Seuss published The Cat in the Hat, Disneyland opened, and the tv remote control was invented. Things were soon to change as Castro became dictator in Cuba and Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. There were also changes in the most popular baby names in the United States.

Trendy Names of the 1950s

Boy Names

RankNameIn the 1950sSince 1879
#1Gary330k900k
#2Bruce136k382k
#3Randy120k327k
#4Ricky79k220k
#5Rick34k81k
#6Rickey28k61k
#7Kim21k35k
#8Garry19k47k
#9Rickie8k16k
#10Unknown4k9k

Girl Names

RankNameIn the 1950sSince 1879
#1Linda564k1,452k
#2Susan438k1,121k
#3Deborah431k740k
#4Debra341k550k
#5Cynthia263k708k
#6Pamela237k594k
#7Diane211k518k
#8Cheryl171k439k
#9Kathy158k333k
#10Cathy83k170k

Most Popular Names Of the Decade

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-James843k5,136k
#2Michael837k4,338k
#3Robert830k4,809k
#4John798k5,106k
#5David770k3,601k
#6William591k4,088k
#7Richard535k2,561k
#8-Thomas454k2,298k
#9Mark382k1,348k
#10Charles361k2,379k
#11Steven334k1,278k
#12Gary330k900k
#13-Joseph300k2,593k
#14Donald273k1,410k
#15Ronald271k1,077k
#16-Kenneth263k1,271k
#17-Paul253k1,385k
#18Larry246k805k
#19Daniel244k1,896k
#20Stephen207k855k
#21Dennis204k617k
#22Timothy198k1,066k
#23Edward188k1,286k
#24Jeffrey185k973k
#25George181k1,461k
#26Gregory178k706k
#27Kevin159k1,163k
#28Douglas148k557k
#29Terry141k422k
#30Anthony137k1,424k
#31Jerry137k612k
#32Bruce136k382k
#33Randy120k327k
#34Brian112k1,162k
#35Frank112k909k
#36Scott112k771k
#37Roger110k439k
#38Raymond109k771k
#39Peter103k573k
#40Patrick97k670k
#41Keith91k434k
#42Lawrence91k456k
#43Wayne88k352k
#44Danny87k282k
#45Alan84k344k
#46Gerald83k447k
#47Ricky79k220k
#48Carl79k502k
#49Christopher78k2,014k
#50Dale76k277k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Mary626k4,121k
#2-Linda564k1,452k
#3Patricia460k1,571k
#4Susan438k1,121k
#5Deborah431k740k
#6Barbara346k1,434k
#7Debra341k550k
#8Karen332k985k
#9Nancy287k1,002k
#10Donna270k831k
#11Cynthia263k708k
#12Sandra252k873k
#13Pamela237k594k
#14Sharon233k721k
#15Kathleen224k711k
#16Carol223k816k
#17Diane211k518k
#18Brenda209k607k
#19Cheryl171k439k
#20Janet168k556k
#21Elizabeth166k1,621k
#22Kathy158k333k
#23Margaret150k1,244k
#24Janice134k405k
#25Carolyn124k555k
#26Denise124k372k
#27Judy118k382k
#28Rebecca116k745k
#29Joyce115k507k
#30Teresa114k413k
#31Christine113k584k
#32Catherine109k657k
#33Shirley109k685k
#34Judith109k452k
#35Betty103k999k
#36Beverly98k377k
#37Lisa96k965k
#38Laura96k794k
#39Theresa90k403k
#40Connie89k266k
#41Ann87k468k
#42Julie87k507k
#43Gloria87k411k
#44Gail86k202k
#45Joan85k480k
#46Paula85k278k
#47Peggy84k293k
#48Cindy84k256k
#49Martha83k548k
#50Bonnie83k324k

Most Popular Names Of 1959

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-Michael85k4,338k
#2-David84k3,601k
#3-James79k5,136k
#4John76k5,106k
#5Robert74k4,809k
#6Mark57k1,348k
#7William51k4,088k
#8-Richard47k2,561k
#9-Thomas40k2,298k
#10-Steven34k1,278k
#11-Charles31k2,379k
#12Timothy31k1,066k
#13Joseph30k2,593k
#14Kevin27k1,163k
#15Kenneth27k1,271k
#16Jeffrey26k973k
#17Paul26k1,385k
#18Daniel25k1,896k
#19Donald24k1,410k
#20Gary23k900k
#21Ronald23k1,077k
#22Brian21k1,162k
#23-Gregory20k706k
#24Scott20k771k
#25Larry18k805k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Mary54k4,121k
#2-Susan42k1,121k
#3-Linda40k1,452k
#4-Karen37k985k
#5Donna36k831k
#6Patricia35k1,571k
#7Debra31k550k
#8-Cynthia30k708k
#9Deborah30k740k
#10Lisa26k965k
#11Barbara25k1,434k
#12Pamela25k594k
#13Sandra23k873k
#14Nancy23k1,002k
#15Kathy22k333k
#16-Brenda21k607k
#17-Sharon21k721k
#18Cheryl21k439k
#19Diane20k518k
#20Debbie20k188k
#21Elizabeth18k1,621k
#22Carol18k816k
#23Kathleen18k711k
#24Teresa17k413k
#25-Cindy17k256k

Most Popular Names Of 1958

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-Michael91k4,338k
#2David83k3,601k
#3James79k5,136k
#4-Robert77k4,809k
#5-John76k5,106k
#6-William54k4,088k
#7-Mark53k1,348k
#8-Richard50k2,561k
#9-Thomas42k2,298k
#10-Steven33k1,278k
#11-Charles32k2,379k
#12-Joseph30k2,593k
#13Timothy29k1,066k
#14-Kenneth27k1,271k
#15Paul26k1,385k
#16-Daniel26k1,896k
#17Gary25k900k
#18Donald25k1,410k
#19Ronald25k1,077k
#20-Kevin25k1,163k
#21-Jeffrey24k973k
#22-Larry20k805k
#23-Gregory20k706k
#24Brian19k1,162k
#25Scott19k771k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Mary56k4,121k
#2-Susan45k1,121k
#3-Linda42k1,452k
#4Karen38k985k
#5Patricia38k1,571k
#6Debra36k550k
#7Deborah33k740k
#8Cynthia31k708k
#9-Barbara28k1,434k
#10-Donna27k831k
#11Pamela25k594k
#12Nancy25k1,002k
#13Cheryl24k439k
#14Kathy24k333k
#15-Sandra22k873k
#16Brenda21k607k
#17Sharon21k721k
#18Diane21k518k
#19Lisa20k965k
#20Carol20k816k
#21-Kathleen19k711k
#22-Elizabeth19k1,621k
#23Julie18k507k
#24Debbie18k188k
#25Cindy17k256k

Most Popular Names Of 1957

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-Michael93k4,338k
#2-James84k5,136k
#3David82k3,601k
#4Robert82k4,809k
#5-John79k5,106k
#6-William57k4,088k
#7Mark53k1,348k
#8Richard52k2,561k
#9-Thomas45k2,298k
#10-Steven37k1,278k
#11-Charles34k2,379k
#12-Joseph32k2,593k
#13-Gary30k900k
#14Kenneth28k1,271k
#15Donald28k1,410k
#16Daniel27k1,896k
#17Ronald27k1,077k
#18Paul27k1,385k
#19-Timothy25k1,066k
#20Kevin24k1,163k
#21Jeffrey24k973k
#22Larry22k805k
#23Gregory21k706k
#24Stephen20k855k
#25-Edward19k1,286k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Mary61k4,121k
#2Susan46k1,121k
#3-Linda44k1,452k
#4Debra43k550k
#5Karen41k985k
#6Deborah40k740k
#7Cynthia39k708k
#8Patricia39k1,571k
#9-Barbara30k1,434k
#10-Donna28k831k
#11-Nancy28k1,002k
#12-Pamela25k594k
#13Brenda24k607k
#14Sharon24k721k
#15Sandra23k873k
#16Cheryl23k439k
#17Diane22k518k
#18Carol22k816k
#19Cindy20k256k
#20-Kathy20k333k
#21Kathleen20k711k
#22-Elizabeth17k1,621k
#23Janet16k556k
#24-Teresa16k413k
#25Denise15k372k

Most Popular Names Of 1956

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-Michael91k4,338k
#2James85k5,136k
#3Robert84k4,809k
#4David82k3,601k
#5-John81k5,106k
#6-William59k4,088k
#7-Richard53k2,561k
#8Mark49k1,348k
#9Thomas45k2,298k
#10-Steven38k1,278k
#11-Charles35k2,379k
#12Joseph33k2,593k
#13Gary32k900k
#14-Donald28k1,410k
#15Ronald28k1,077k
#16Kenneth27k1,271k
#17Paul27k1,385k
#18Daniel27k1,896k
#19Timothy23k1,066k
#20-Jeffrey23k973k
#21Larry22k805k
#22Kevin22k1,163k
#23Stephen21k855k
#24-Gregory21k706k
#25-Edward19k1,286k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Mary62k4,121k
#2Debra48k550k
#3-Linda48k1,452k
#4Deborah48k740k
#5-Susan47k1,121k
#6-Patricia43k1,571k
#7Karen40k985k
#8Cynthia32k708k
#9Barbara32k1,434k
#10-Donna30k831k
#11Nancy29k1,002k
#12-Pamela27k594k
#13Sharon27k721k
#14Sandra24k873k
#15Diane23k518k
#16-Carol21k816k
#17-Kathleen21k711k
#18Cheryl21k439k
#19Brenda19k607k
#20Kathy17k333k
#21Janet17k556k
#22Elizabeth16k1,621k
#23-Denise15k372k
#24Teresa14k413k
#25Margaret14k1,244k

Most Popular Names Of 1955

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-Michael88k4,338k
#2David86k3,601k
#3James84k5,136k
#4Robert84k4,809k
#5John80k5,106k
#6-William60k4,088k
#7-Richard54k2,561k
#8-Thomas46k2,298k
#9Mark42k1,348k
#10Steven38k1,278k
#11Charles35k2,379k
#12Gary34k900k
#13-Joseph32k2,593k
#14-Donald28k1,410k
#15Kenneth27k1,271k
#16-Paul27k1,385k
#17Daniel26k1,896k
#18Ronald26k1,077k
#19-Larry23k805k
#20Jeffrey23k973k
#21Stephen22k855k
#22Timothy21k1,066k
#23Dennis20k617k
#24Gregory20k706k
#25Edward19k1,286k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Mary63k4,121k
#2Deborah52k740k
#3Linda51k1,452k
#4Debra51k550k
#5-Susan47k1,121k
#6Patricia46k1,571k
#7-Barbara34k1,434k
#8-Karen33k985k
#9-Nancy30k1,002k
#10Donna28k831k
#11Cynthia27k708k
#12-Pamela27k594k
#13-Sandra25k873k
#14Diane23k518k
#15Sharon22k721k
#16Carol22k816k
#17Kathleen22k711k
#18-Brenda19k607k
#19Cheryl19k439k
#20Janet18k556k
#21Elizabeth17k1,621k
#22Kathy15k333k
#23Denise15k372k
#24Margaret14k1,244k
#25-Janice13k405k

Most Popular Names Of 1954

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1Michael89k4,338k
#2-James86k5,136k
#3Robert86k4,809k
#4-John81k5,106k
#5-David80k3,601k
#6-William61k4,088k
#7-Richard57k2,561k
#8-Thomas47k2,298k
#9Gary38k900k
#10Charles37k2,379k
#11-Steven37k1,278k
#12-Mark36k1,348k
#13-Joseph31k2,593k
#14-Donald29k1,410k
#15-Ronald28k1,077k
#16-Paul26k1,385k
#17-Kenneth26k1,271k
#18Daniel25k1,896k
#19Larry25k805k
#20Stephen22k855k
#21Dennis21k617k
#22Edward20k1,286k
#23Jeffrey19k973k
#24George19k1,461k
#25Gregory18k706k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Mary68k4,121k
#2-Linda55k1,452k
#3-Deborah55k740k
#4-Patricia49k1,571k
#5-Susan47k1,121k
#6Debra46k550k
#7Barbara36k1,434k
#8Karen32k985k
#9Nancy30k1,002k
#10Cynthia28k708k
#11Donna27k831k
#12Pamela27k594k
#13Sandra26k873k
#14-Kathleen22k711k
#15Carol22k816k
#16Sharon22k721k
#17-Diane22k518k
#18-Brenda20k607k
#19-Janet18k556k
#20Elizabeth17k1,621k
#21Margaret15k1,244k
#22Cheryl15k439k
#23-Kathy14k333k
#24Denise14k372k
#25Janice14k405k

Most Popular Names Of 1953

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1Robert86k4,809k
#2James86k5,136k
#3Michael84k4,338k
#4John80k5,106k
#5-David76k3,601k
#6-William62k4,088k
#7-Richard58k2,561k
#8-Thomas47k2,298k
#9-Charles38k2,379k
#10-Gary37k900k
#11-Steven34k1,278k
#12Mark29k1,348k
#13Joseph29k2,593k
#14Donald28k1,410k
#15-Ronald28k1,077k
#16Paul26k1,385k
#17Kenneth25k1,271k
#18Larry25k805k
#19Dennis24k617k
#20-Daniel23k1,896k
#21-Stephen22k855k
#22-George19k1,461k
#23-Edward19k1,286k
#24-Gregory16k706k
#25Jeffrey16k973k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1Mary64k4,121k
#2Linda61k1,452k
#3Deborah52k740k
#4Patricia51k1,571k
#5-Susan44k1,121k
#6-Barbara38k1,434k
#7Debra37k550k
#8Nancy31k1,002k
#9Karen30k985k
#10Pamela26k594k
#11Sandra25k873k
#12Cynthia25k708k
#13-Donna24k831k
#14Kathleen24k711k
#15Sharon23k721k
#16Carol22k816k
#17Diane21k518k
#18Brenda20k607k
#19-Janet18k556k
#20Margaret16k1,244k
#21Elizabeth16k1,621k
#22Janice15k405k
#23Kathy13k333k
#24Rebecca13k745k
#25Carolyn13k555k

Most Popular Names Of 1952

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-James87k5,136k
#2-Robert87k4,809k
#3-John83k5,106k
#4-Michael79k4,338k
#5-David72k3,601k
#6-William63k4,088k
#7-Richard58k2,561k
#8-Thomas49k2,298k
#9-Charles39k2,379k
#10-Gary39k900k
#11Steven32k1,278k
#12Joseph29k2,593k
#13Donald28k1,410k
#14Larry28k805k
#15Ronald28k1,077k
#16-Kenneth26k1,271k
#17Mark26k1,348k
#18Dennis25k617k
#19Paul24k1,385k
#20Daniel23k1,896k
#21Stephen23k855k
#22-George20k1,461k
#23-Edward20k1,286k
#24Gregory15k706k
#25Bruce14k382k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Linda67k1,452k
#2-Mary66k4,121k
#3-Patricia53k1,571k
#4-Deborah50k740k
#5Susan41k1,121k
#6Barbara40k1,434k
#7-Nancy32k1,002k
#8-Karen29k985k
#9Debra27k550k
#10Sandra26k873k
#11Kathleen26k711k
#12Carol24k816k
#13Donna24k831k
#14Sharon23k721k
#15Brenda21k607k
#16Diane21k518k
#17Pamela21k594k
#18Cynthia20k708k
#19-Janet18k556k
#20Christine18k584k
#21Margaret17k1,244k
#22Elizabeth16k1,621k
#23Janice15k405k
#24Carolyn14k555k
#25-Judith14k452k

Most Popular Names Of 1951

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-James87k5,136k
#2-Robert86k4,809k
#3-John82k5,106k
#4-Michael73k4,338k
#5-David65k3,601k
#6-William63k4,088k
#7-Richard55k2,561k
#8-Thomas48k2,298k
#9-Charles39k2,379k
#10-Gary38k900k
#11-Larry31k805k
#12-Ronald29k1,077k
#13Steven28k1,278k
#14Joseph28k2,593k
#15Donald28k1,410k
#16Kenneth26k1,271k
#17-Dennis24k617k
#18-Paul23k1,385k
#19-Stephen22k855k
#20Mark21k1,348k
#21-Daniel21k1,896k
#22George20k1,461k
#23Edward20k1,286k
#24-Jerry15k612k
#25-Gregory14k706k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Linda74k1,452k
#2-Mary66k4,121k
#3-Patricia56k1,571k
#4Deborah42k740k
#5Barbara41k1,434k
#6Susan40k1,121k
#7Nancy30k1,002k
#8Karen28k985k
#9Sandra28k873k
#10-Kathleen27k711k
#11Carol25k816k
#12Donna24k831k
#13Sharon24k721k
#14-Brenda22k607k
#15Diane20k518k
#16Pamela19k594k
#17Margaret18k1,244k
#18Debra17k550k
#19Janet17k556k
#20Cynthia16k708k
#21Janice16k405k
#22Carolyn15k555k
#23Elizabeth15k1,621k
#24Christine15k584k
#25Judith15k452k

Most Popular Names Of 1950

Boy Names

Rank-NameBoysSince 1879
#1-James86k5,136k
#2-Robert84k4,809k
#3-John79k5,106k
#4Michael65k4,338k
#5David61k3,601k
#6William61k4,088k
#7-Richard51k2,561k
#8-Thomas46k2,298k
#9-Charles39k2,379k
#10Gary34k900k
#11Larry31k805k
#12Ronald30k1,077k
#13Joseph27k2,593k
#14Donald27k1,410k
#15-Kenneth24k1,271k
#16Steven23k1,278k
#17Dennis23k617k
#18Paul22k1,385k
#19-Stephen21k855k
#20George20k1,461k
#21Daniel19k1,896k
#22Edward19k1,286k
#23Mark17k1,348k
#24Jerry15k612k
#25Gregory13k706k

Girl Names

Rank-NameGirlsSince 1879
#1-Linda80k1,452k
#2-Mary65k4,121k
#3-Patricia48k1,571k
#4-Barbara42k1,434k
#5-Susan38k1,121k
#6Nancy30k1,002k
#7Deborah29k740k
#8Sandra29k873k
#9Carol26k816k
#10Kathleen26k711k
#11Sharon25k721k
#12Karen24k985k
#13Donna22k831k
#14Brenda21k607k
#15Margaret18k1,244k
#16Diane18k518k
#17Pamela16k594k
#18Janet16k556k
#19Shirley16k685k
#20Carolyn16k555k
#21Judith15k452k
#22Janice15k405k
#23Cynthia14k708k
#24Elizabeth14k1,621k
#25Judy14k382k

Link to us: https://www.names.org/lists/most-popular/in-the-1950s/
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The data is taken from births that occurred in the United States after 1879. From 1880 to 1936, all births may not be included in the original data set.

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