The 1950s was a decade of economic growth. World War II had ended in 1945, and for many, there was new hope for peace.
Television has become a major source for entertainment and information, joining radio and movies. Television brought cultural icons to our homes in an entirely new way.
The popular names from the 1950s reflected both respect for tradition and fascination with popular culture.
The top ten baby names from the 50s for both boys and girls were largely unchanged from the previous decade, with James and Mary remaining the most popular baby names.
1950s Girl Names
- Mary
- Linda
- Patricia
- Susan
- Deborah
- Barbara
- Karen
- Nancy
- Donna
- Cynthia
- Sandra
- Pamela
- Sharon
- Kathleen
- Carol
- Diane
- Brenda
- Cheryl
- Janet
- Elizabeth
- Kathy
- Margaret
- Janice
- Carolyn
- Denise
- Judy
- Rebecca
- Joyce
- Teresa
- Christine
- Catherine
- Shirley
- Judith
- Betty
- Beverly
- Lisa
- Laura
- Theresa
- Connie
- Ann
- Julie
- Gloria
- Gail
- Joan
- Paula
- Peggy
- Cindy
- Martha
- Bonnie
- Jane
- Cathy
- Robin
- Debbie
- Diana
- Marilyn
- Kathryn
- Dorothy
- Wanda
- Jean
- Vicki
- Sheila
- Virginia
- Sherry
- Katherine
- Rose
- Lynn
- Jo
- Ruth
- Maria
- Darlene
- Jacqueline
- Rita
- Rhonda
- Phyllis
- Helen
- Vickie
- Kim
- Lori
- Ellen
- Elaine
- Joanne
- Anne
- Valerie
- Alice
- Frances
- Suzanne
- Marie
- Victoria
- Kimberly
- Anita
- Laurie
- Michelle
- Sally
- Terri
- Marcia
- Terry
- Jennifer
- Leslie
- Doris
Down at number 98 sits the quiet beginning of a new era. Jennifer made its appearance on the list of most common 1950s girl names.
The popularity of Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Jones is usually considered to be the reason so many girls received this name at the time. Jennifer continued to grow in usage and became the most popular name of the 1970s.
Deborah, a name with biblical roots gained immense popularity during this decade.
The traditional spelling rose from number 6 to number 5. An alternate spelling, Debra, made an astonishing entrance to the list at number seven.
Debra Kerr, a well-known actress of this time, was also a hit. Among her many films were the 1950s hits “From Here to Eternity” and “The King and I”.
Leslie, which had traditionally been a common name for boys, was now becoming a popular name for girls and entered the list at 99.
In this decade, some names fell out of fashion.
Phyllis fell from 38 to 75 and Doris fell from 44 to 100, while Judith fell from number nine to number 34.
Evelyn was at 64 in the 1940s but fell completely off the list in the 1950s.
1950s Boy Names
- James
- Michael
- Robert
- John
- David
- William
- Richard
- Thomas
- Mark
- Charles
- Steven
- Gary
- Joseph
- Donald
- Ronald
- Kenneth
- Paul
- Larry
- Daniel
- Stephen
- Dennis
- Timothy
- Edward
- Jeffrey
- George
- Gregory
- Kevin
- Douglas
- Terry
- Anthony
- Jerry
- Bruce
- Randy
- Brian
- Frank
- Scott
- Roger
- Raymond
- Peter
- Patrick
- Keith
- Lawrence
- Wayne
- Danny
- Alan
- Gerald
- Ricky
- Carl
- Christopher
- Dale
- Walter
- Craig
- Willie
- Johnny
- Arthur
- Steve
- Joe
- Randall
- Jack
- Russell
- Henry
- Harold
- Roy
- Andrew
- Philip
- Ralph
- Billy
- Glenn
- Stanley
- Jimmy
- Rodney
- Barry
- Samuel
- Eric
- Bobby
- Albert
- Phillip
- Ronnie
- Martin
- Mike
- Eugene
- Louis
- Howard
- Allen
- Curtis
- Jeffery
- Frederick
- Leonard
- Harry
- Micheal
- Tony
- Ernest
- Eddie
- Fred
- Darrell
- Jay
- Melvin
- Matthew
- Lee
- Vincent
For the most part, the top 1950s names for boys made less dramatic movements on the list.
One exception is George, which had sat at number 15 during the 1940s, fell to number 25 in the 1950s.
Randall made an entrance to the list at number 58. This name was much more popular than the traditional favorites Jack, Henry, Andrew.
Kevin, a name with Irish origins, entered the list at number 27. Actor Kevin McCarthy was in the film adaption of “Death of a Salesman” and the science-fiction movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”.
Actor Tony Randall rose to popularity and appeared in the popular TV show “Mr. Peepers”. His Emmy-winning performance may have been part of the reason parents favored this name.
Vincent entered the list at number 100. Vincent Price was a respected and popular actor from radio and movies during this time.
