Timeless Baby Names from the 1950s
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The 1950s were the launch pad into the second half of the 20th century. The post-World War II period saw the spark of the Civil Rights movement, the surge into the suburbs, and the birth of rock and roll. The period is also synonymous with the "baby boom," which was characterized by a sharp increase in births nationwide, so parents were naturally looking for baby name inspiration.
The top baby names of the 1950s will probably look familiar—you might even spot your own parents’ names on the list! And while most 1950s monikers are still quite common today, some of them haven’t cracked the top 20—or even top 100—in recent years, meaning it's time for the next generation to revive them.
Keep reading for timeless baby name ideas from the 1950s, compiled with information from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Although this article separates names by gender, your baby’s assigned sex at birth does not need to dictate the name you choose for them. Names are not inherently gendered or associated with a specific sex, and it's important to select a name that feels right for your little one and your family.
Popular 1950s Names for Boys
According to SSA data, the most popular boy name in the 1950s was James. Indeed, James was in the top 10 names for boys every year from 1900 to 1992! While it dipped in the 1990s and 2000s, it reentered at number nine in 2014 and has been climbing up since.
Other names that round out the top 10 include Michael, Robert, John, David, William, Richard, Thomas, Mark, and Charles. Read more about these 1950s boy's names below.
James
Origin: Hebrew, English
Meaning: Supplanter
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jimmy, Jamie, Jaymes
Fun Fact: Six presidents have been named James, making it the most common first name for presidents.
Michael
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Who is like God?
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mike, Mikey
Fun Fact:Michael was the number one name for boys from 1954 to 1998, except for 1960 when it dropped down to number two.
Robert
Origin: German, English
Meaning: Bright fame
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rob, Robbie, Robby, Bob, Bobby
John
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jon, Jack
Fun Fact: This short baby name actually peaked in popularity before the 1950s—it was the top boy name from 1900 to 1923!
David
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dave
William
Origin: German
Meaning: Resolute protection
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Will, Wills, Bill, Billy
Fun Fact: Since 1900, William has never fallen below the top 20 names for baby boys.
Richard
Origin: German
Meaning: Dominant ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ricky
Thomas
Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: Twin
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tomas, Tom, Tommy
Mark
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Warlike
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marc
Charles
Origin: German, French
Meaning: Free man
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Charlie, Charley, Chuck
Fun Fact: Charles is a common name for nobility, and nowadays it's sometimes considered a gender-neutral baby name.
More '50s Names for Boys
Steven: Once popular, this name hasn’t cracked the top 100 since 2007.
Gary: Gary had a moment in the 1950s, perhaps thanks to Hollywood icon Gary Cooper, but you won’t come across many classrooms with this name nowadays.
Joseph: Joe? Joey? Joseph? All variations have a great ring to it.
Donald: Donald peaked in popularity in 1934, but remained in the top 20 until 1960.
Ronald: Not feeling Donald? How about the similar-sounding Ronald!
Kenneth: Kenneth means “born of fire" or "handsome,” which might explain how Barbie’s boyfriend got his name.
Paul: This is a safe and simple name.
Larry: One of the greatest NBA players of all time, Larry Bird was born in 1956.
Daniel: The name Daniel only got more popular after the ‘50s; it didn’t peak until 2007-2008!
Stephen: A slightly more formal take on Steven.
Popular 1950s Names for Girls
From 1900 through 1965, Mary was always either the first or second most popular name for baby girls. But it has since fallen out of fashion and hasn’t even cracked the top 100 since 2008.
Other popular girl names in the 1950s include Linda, Patricia, Susan, Deborah, Barbara, Debra, Karen, Nancy, and Donna.
Mary
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved
Linda
Origin: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Meaning: Pretty
Fun Fact: Linda claimed the number one spot in 1947, ending Mary’s 47-year streak.
Patricia
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Noble, patrician
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Patty, Patsy, Tricia
Susan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Lily
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sue, Susie
Deborah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bee
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Debra, Debbie
Barbara
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Foreign woman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Barb, Barbie, Barbra
Fun Fact: Barbara Millicent Roberts (aka Barbie) hit the scene in 1959. Maybe the recent Barbie movie will give the name’s popularity a boost; it hasn’t appeared in the top 100 since 1977.
Debra
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bee
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Deborah, Debbie
Karen
Origin: Danish
Meaning: Pure
Fun Fact: Karen is a Danish diminutive of Katherine.
Nancy
Origin: Hebrew, French
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nan, Nanny
Donna
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Lady
Fun Fact: Legendary actress Donna Reed might have been a contributing factor for the name’s popularity in the ‘50s.
More '50s Names for Girls
Cynthia: Cynthia appeared in the top 20 from 1951 through 1968.
Sandra: Sandra was most popular in the 1940s, which carried over into the next decade. However, the name dwindled in interest after that.
Pamela: Pamela means “all honey,” which sounds pretty sweet!
Sharon: Actress Sharon Stone was born in 1958, joining the ranks of many other Sharons that year.
Kathleen: This Irish baby name means “pure” and is related to Katherine and Kaitlin.
Carol: This might be the perfect name for babies born around the holidays!
Diane: Today it’s less popular than Diana, but in 1958, Diane was the most popular name for girls.
Brenda: Did you know Brenda means “blade of a sword”? Now that’s fierce!
Cheryl: Cheryl hasn’t appeared in the top 1,000 baby girl names since 1997, but with a French meaning of “darling," it might be worth revisiting.
Janet: Janet Leigh was one of the most famous actresses of the 1950s—and she’s also Jamie Lee Curtis’s mom!
More Baby Name Ideas
For more baby name inspiration, take a look at the following lists:
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